An update has emerged on Sunderland target Joe Pigott, regarding his status at AFC Wimbledon... 

What's the talk?

According to The News, Sunderland target Joe Pigott has returned to training with AFC Wimbledon despite his contract with the club ending last week. The Black Cats, Portsmouth, Luton and Bristol City are all said to be interested in landing him on a free transfer.

However, Sunderland do not need to worry about him being in training with his former club. The report has handed a boost to the League One outfit's chances of signing him, with it claiming that Pigott is not looking to re-sign with the Dons and is simply training with them to keep his fitness levels up ahead of next season.

Johnson needs him

This news will come as a boost to Sunderland as it seemingly rules out the chance of him signing fresh terms with Wimbledon. Not only is this good news for the club's pursuit of the striker, but it is also a blow to one of their League One rivals, with the Dons losing their top-scorer from last season.

This could impact their chances of competing at the top end of the table as a major part of their attacking threat has now departed.

Sunderland will be able to sign him without paying a penny in transfer fees and that could be a gigantic boost for the club given that they lost last season's top-scorer, Charlie Wyke, on a free transfer to Wigan.

Lee Johnson is in dire need of a new number nine to fill the void left by the 27-goal attacker and Pigott could be exactly what he needs. Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips reacted to the club's interest in Pigott recently claimed that he could be the player to replace Wyke, as he “can score goals”. 

He told Football Insider:

“His stats speak for themselves. A record of nearly one in two is a great strike rate.

“My only worry is, coming from Wimbledon, can he handle the pressure of playing for Sunderland? No disrespect to Wimbledon but Sunderland is a big step up.

“I haven’t seen too much of Pigott but the lad can score goals, that is clear. He could be the man to replace Charlie Wyke next season because it looks as if he will be moving on.

“If Lee can get Pigott in and he scores a lot of goals for Sunderland, he will be a hero straight away.”

Therefore, the £2.1k-per-week beast could be a terrific signing for the Black Cats and Kristjaan Speakman must act now to snap him up before another team comes in to sign him.

Pigott scored 20 goals in League One last season and Johnson needs that level of finishing at the top end of the pitch due to Wyke's exit this summer.

AND in other news, Speakman handed key boost over “influential” £30k-p/w maestro, SAFC fans will love it...