Sunderland have been 'linked' with a double transfer deal - here's everything you need to know in 90 seconds...
Noah Sadiki has been one of the stars of Sunderland’s strong start to the Premier League season
Régis Le Bris has praised Noah Sadiki's determination to improve his game following his stellar start to the campaign.
Sadiki has been one of the stars of Sunderland's excellent return to Premier League football, starting in every game so far and impressing with his energy and intelligence. Signed from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise for an initial fee believed to be in the region of £15 million, Sadiki has quickly established himself as one of the brightest midfield prospects in the top tier.
Le Bris says his quality is clear but has stressed that it is his attitude behind the scenes that is every bit as important to his success.
"We can forget that he is only 20," Le Bris said.
"He is a really good player. He has a different personality, but I think he is really smart to understand what is needed to go further. He looks at what type of specific profile he needs to progress – technical, physical. You don’t always find the same profile with every player – he has own characteristics, but I think they fit well with the demands of the Premier League. At the same time, though, you have to have the mentality to learn and be aware of what the characteristics of your environment are and what you need to do to improve. What can I do to get better? What advice do I need to take from other members of the team? He has this combination of talent on one side, then on the other side, the ability to learn."
Sadiki endured a difficult first half an hour at the Stadium of Light in the 1-1 draw with Everton last week, picking up his fourth yellow card of the campaign when making a late challenge out of frustration. Le Bris said Sadiki's response as he went on to be an influential figure in Sunderland's fightback bodes well for the rest of his career.
"He got a bit frustrated in the first half against Everton and we spoke about this topic, it was probably the first time he wasn't so composed emotionally," he said.
"It's a good lesson for him, because he had the ability to feel it and fix it in real time, which is not always obvious for a young player. And then he did well. One more quality, one more lesson."
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DR Congo boss responds to Noah Sadiki transfer question
Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki should stay at the Stadium of Light for a while to come, even if his performances on Wearside attract interest from high-profile suitors, according to his national team boss.
The 20-year-old has made a hugely promising start to life on Wearside, and has established himself as a virtual ever-present of Regis Le Bris’ midfield since completing a £17 million move from Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise during the summer transfer window.
And while speculation over the prospect of a big money exit hasn’t started just yet, DR Congo manager Sébastien Desabre - who handed Sadiki his senior international debut last year - suspects that it is only a matter of time before the player begins to attract attention from the traditional upper echelons of the Premier League.
Speaking to Africa Foot, when asked whether he expects Sadiki to find himself at the centre of transfer interest in the future, Desabre said: “It’s quite possible. The big Premier League clubs have a lot of money, and they can make a big offer that’s hard to refuse.
“In my opinion, he’ll soon be among the best in his position in the Premier League, and when you look at his progress, there’s no doubt he’ll play for a big club one day. But he’s only 20 years old; he still has plenty of room to improve. Let’s give him time.”
But while Desabre is convinced that Sadiki has a bright future at the highest level, he has also urged the starlet to be patient with his career pathway. He added: “That said, I think Noah Sadiki’s best interest is to stay at Sunderland for at least another season. He’s discovering the Premier League, and we need to give him time to adapt.
“It’s early November, and it’s going to be a long season. There will probably be a point where Sunderland experiences a dip in form. It will be interesting to see how Noah adapts if that happens.”
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