Blink and you might miss the next whirlwind transfer rumour involving Sunderland.
£50m has already been spent on summer recruits, and the Black Cats' bank account looks as if it will be hammered even more, considering another £37m is allegedly going to be spent very shortly to add both midfielder Noah Sadiki and Chelsea goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic to the ever-expanding Stadium of Light group.
Union Saint-Gilloise's Noah Sadiki in action with Rangers' Nedim Bajrami
It's not unusual for promoted clubs to spend such excessive money, with Nottingham Forest boldly adding 22 new faces to their squad the summer after sealing promotion in 2022, as Sunderland now prepare to make even more purchases away from the high-profile names already listed.
Sunderland in advanced talks for £4m gem
The added injection of £27m from Jobe Bellingham's departure to Borussia Dortmund has certainly been put to good use, alongside Tommy Watson departing for a far more modest £10m.
Ligue 1 seems to be Sunderland's most fancied hunting ground so far this summer, with the potential now for Lyon superstar Georges Mikautadze to also join the building according to reports, alongside Toulouse defender and England U21 superstar, Charlie Cresswell, being eyed up by those on Wearside after an imposing U21 Euros tournament with Lee Carsley's England.
Charlie-Cresswell-1
Sunderland won't want to lose focus on giving some youthful gems chances, however, even as plenty of cash is splashed, with Africa Foot now speculating that Regis Le Bris and Co. are in advanced talks to land promising Lorient starlet Arthur Avom Ebong for only £4m.
Africa Foot states that Liverpool, Chelsea, West Ham United, and AFC Bournemouth have all been past admirers of the 20-year-old, but Sunderland could win his coveted services on a four-year deal very soon, with Le Bris already familiar with the Cameroonian sensation, having briefly worked with him at Lorient.
Even if Sunderland do ultimately fall short in their pursuit of Cresswell, they could win a talent equally capable of exploding into life in the English game by securing the signature of Lorient number 67 shortly, having just had a breakout season in French football himself.
How Ebong could be Cresswell 2.0
After all, the race for the former Leeds centre-back's services throws up similar weighty Premier League clubs, as Graham Potter's Hammers also begin to eye up the Preston-born warrior.
But, whilst Cresswell would cost the Black Cats a steep £18m, Ebong would be able to enter Le Bris' camp for just £4m in contrast, despite having a similarly glowing campaign in French football from a central midfield role.
Ebong's league numbers for Lorient (24/25)
Stat (* = per game)
Games played
Goals scored
Assists
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Ball recoveries*
Total duels won*
Stats by Sofascore
The dominant 6-foot-3 centre-back is able to boast an impressive campaign in Ligue 1 - which saw him collect nine clean sheets when facing off against the might of Paris St Germain and other top-flight titans - whilst Ebong has had to settle for the league below, but Cresswell also impressed in the second tier of English football similarly when sent out on loan away from Leeds.
Therefore, it's not the wildest shout to suggest that the African midfielder could also be a success story in a demanding division like the Premier League, particularly in an environment that cherishes up-and-coming talents such as the Stadium of Light.
Jobe-Bellingham-Sunderland
Indeed, Ebong will look to the likes of the aforementioned Bellingham for inspiration, with the now Dortmund sensation amazingly collecting one fewer goal contribution than his African counterpart managed in Ligue 2 when sealing promotion for the Black Cats.
Therefore, the 20-year-old starlet will be hoping he can enter into the Premier League very shortly and shine, with Cresswell only worth £3.8m when first joining Toulouse, which is only £200k off Ebong's low valuation.
charlie-cresswell-leeds
Now, he's worth way more than the price tag Leeds hastily sold him for.
Sunderland will hope Ebong's valuation skyrockets in a similar manner if he moves to Wearside shortly, but Le Bris and Co will at least be able to lap up their rising star for all he's worth, whilst Sunderland's fellow promoted foe continue to ponder what could have been if they'd kept a firmer grip on the England U21 international.
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