The £15m star could be on his way to Sunderland

Sunderland are still running as they reach the final stages of their marathon campaign, but they are definitely feeling the effects of the Premier League.

Anyway. It's not all doom and gloom. The Black Cats have 48 points in the Premier League, marking their most points in the top flight in 25 years. Not bad going for a newly promoted club that has been languishing in League One for the past few years.

However, there is no doubt that the defense is leaking a lot, the legs are starting to drag, the forwards are not sure of those exciting first months.

Regis Le Bris needs to oversee developments in the summer transfer market, perhaps even pushing for the development of the influential Brian Brobbey.

Why Sunderland need to sign a striker

Brobbey has been a prolific number nine this season, but the Sunderland striker has emerged as a surprise target for German giants Bayern Munich, and with Nicolas Jackson set to return to Chelsea when his loan spell ends next month, the Dutchman's departure is sadly a possibility.

With Wilson Isidor proving ineffective in the Premier League, a younger and more uncertain version of Brobbey, it is clear that Sunderland need to be different at the top.

Sunderland have been linked with Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik for several months now, and with interest in the active Championship striker growing, Le Bris will consider a move before the market opens.

Rangers are also interested in the Slovenian striker worth around £15m, so this is one that Sunderland will need to make a decision on quickly, otherwise they could be forced to look for another strong and powerful striker to take them to the next level in the Premier League.

Why Vipotnik can be an improvement of Brobbey

Vipotnik has been the top scorer in the Championship this season. The 24-year-old is attracting a lot of interest for his signature after such an impressive season for the Swans, and Sunderland would be foolish not to roll over.

The striker has scored 26 goals in all competitions this season, and his future is increasingly becoming one of the main issues in the summer window, with the Welsh club's manager, Vitor Matos, hinting that he will part ways with the goalscorer in order to get “the right money”.

Fortunately, Sunderland have some money in the bank, and could do with a Vipotnik-style player, clinical and intelligent. That combination worked very well in the past when Jermain Defoe was signed, and the Slovenian can still prove to be the best striker since the England international retired.

Having scored 37 goals at the Stadium of Light, retired Englishman Defoe has been a barrier between Premier League football and relegation in his 100th game, hailed by Sam Allardyce as the key to the outfit.

Defoe has really been huge on Wearside, and while Brobbey has changed a lot this season, his return of just six goals in 29 Premier League games underlines the need for a sharp midfielder.

Whether Vipotnik can be that person is unknown, but the signs certainly promise a rising star with all the qualities to thrive in the Premier League, not only clinically but with two feet, strong and smart when choosing his time.

With the likes of Bayern showing an interest in Brobbey over the past few months, it is clear that Sunderland need to sign a top-scoring striker this summer.

Could Vipotnik be the man for the job? If he can make the jump from Championship to Premier League football, he could be the top goalscorer Le Bris needs – the best since Defoe, perhaps.