Sunderland have been in contact over a deal for a new midfielder who has been likened to Liverpool star Ryan Gravenberch.
Sunderland’s summer spending goes over £100m
The Black Cats have been one of the busiest sides of the transfer window so far, bringing in six new players for Regis Le Bris ahead of their Premier League return.
Sunderland signings From Fee
Habib Diarra Strasbourg £30.5m
Simon Adingra Brighton £21m
Enzo Le Fee Roma £19.4m
Noah Sadiki Union Saint-Gilloise £15m
Reinildo Mandava Atletico Madrid Free
Chemsdine Talbi Club Brugge £18m
Enzo Le Fee’s loan move was made permanent in a club-record deal, but that was broken again when Habib Diarra made the move to the Stadium of Light. Wingers Simon Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi have moved from Brighton and Club Brugge, whereas midfielder Noah Sadkiki and left-back Reinildo Mandava are also Sunderland players.
New sporting director Florent Ghisolfi appears to have been key to Sunderland’s quick start to the summer transfer window after joining from AS Roma at the beginning of the month.
simon-adingra-brighton Related
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He wants to leave his current club.
Talking recently, Ghisolfi stated the Black Cats want to “become an important club within the Premier League again” and will continue to sign “top-level players who will fully embrace the Sunderland experience”.
“Our ambition is to become an important club within the Premier League again and to regain a status that reflects our history. There is no talk of just surviving. This is a club with the fanbase, infrastructure and ambition to grow quickly into something bigger. Eight years away from the elite does not change the fact that Sunderland is a Premier League club by definition.
“We want to continue bringing in top-level players who will fully embrace the Sunderland experience. We work with conviction. We don't look back, we look ahead... a future that will be written, no matter what, in part.”
Now, a report has shed light on another player Sunderland have been interested in.
According to reports from France, relayed by Sport Witness, Sunderland and Ghisolfi have come forward with an approach for Marseille midfielder Valentin Rongier.
rongier-marseille
The 30-year-old is into the last 12 months of his deal with the Ligue 1 side and could be on the move ahead of the new season. However, after contact from Sunderland, the Black Cats have decided not to advance with a move at this moment in time after being quoted €10m (£8.6m) for Rongier’s services.
As per FBref, Rongier has been likened to Liverpool ace Gravenberch, Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo and Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur for his displays over the past 12 months.
The Frenchman has been with Marseille since 2019 but is now in talks with three unnamed clubs, and by the looks of things, a move to Sunderland isn’t on the cards despite an approach being made by Ghisolfi, but more midfield additions could be on the cards after Diarra and Sadiki.