Sunderland held an interest in signing Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer, according to Shields Gazette and the Sunderland Echo.

Mitrovic has since signed for bitter rivals Newcastle United for a fee of £12.5 million, but it is believed manager Dick Advocaat ruled the RSC Anderlecht man out as a target prior to him making the switch to England anyway.

Advocaat not willing to take risk

It is understood that Advocaat did not pursue his interest in Mitrovic for a number of reasons, with one of these being the risk that the striker carried with his temperament and lack of discipline, both on and off the pitch.

Another reason was because Advocaat was not convinced that the player would suit Sunderland's style of play and the manager's plans for the upcoming season. He is looking to improve the supply of chances for the strikers, not the strikers receiving them, which is why a creative midfielder is at the top of the club's shopping list right now.

With Anderlecht demanding such a high price for the player, the Dutch manager was not willing to see if Mitrovic could prove him wrong and is now believed to be looking at other, alternative options.

Creative midfielder and striker wanted

With Advocaat looking to improve the amount of opportunities the team carve out going forward, it is no surprise he is looking for a creative midfielder, with the Northern Echo linking Tottenham Hotspur's Moussa Dembele with a move to Wearside.

However, with one of Danny Graham and Steven Fletcher likely to leave the Stadium of Light this summer, the latter reportedly the subject of interest from Premier League rivals Swansea City, Sunderland will need to bring in another striker to replace whoever departs.

Moussa Sow of Fenerbahce has been constantly linked with a move to the Black Cats by the Turkish media all summer, a man who scored 14 goas and provided five assists for his side in the 2014-15 Turkish Super Lig season, but with his current club also rumoured to have opened contract talks with him, and a price tag of €12 million on his shoulders, this is looking less and less likely to happen.

Still, the Sunderland Echo have reported that Advocaat has already identified his striking targets.