Sunderland won the Championship play-off final on Saturday afternoon and are now beginning to prepare for their return to the Premier League. SAFC are already identifying transfer targets to help improve their squad for next year.
One of their potential targets that Regis Le Bris has identified is 24-year-old defender Wilfried Singo from AS Monaco, as per reports.
SAFC - Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris
Image courtesy of: ANDREW BOYERS/REUTERS.
Singo made 27 appearances in Ligue 1 last season, helping his side to secure a spot in next seasons Champions League by finishing 3rd. Monaco could now look to cash in on Singo, with a fee of £20m being the club’s asking price as the Black Cats eye a deal, as per the Daily Mirror (print edition, 28/05/25, page 56 – as cited by Mackem News).
Sunderland have lined-up with Dan Ballard and Luke O’Nien in the centre back positions last season, with the former’s heroic efforts being instrumental to their success throughout their play-off campaign. SAFC man Ballard headed home a 122nd-minute winner against Coventry City to send the Black Cats to Wembley.
Singo could help to bolster their depth in the position, something that could be important if the Black Cats are to compete and survive in the Premier League next season.
How Singo can help
Singo started his career in Italy with Torino, where he made 109 appearances in four years, showing he was capable of playing consistently in one of Europe’s top leagues.
This also helped earn the rumoured Sunderland target a move to Monaco in 2023, where he has established himself as an important player in their side, lining up both in the centre and on the right of their defence.
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sunderland, Sunderland interested in swoop for 23-cap international defender
Image courtesy of: ALBERTO LINGRIA/REUTERS.
He has also earned 29 caps for the Ivory Coast since his debut in 2021, also featuring in their side which won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024, playing in every game on their route to the final.
Sunderland’s preparations for the Premier League
After securing their place in the Premier League on Saturday, Le Bris and his Sunderland team can now look ahead and start their preparations for the future.
Significant interest has been shown in current players such as Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg, with their futures potentially being elsewhere. Of the two, SAFC academy graduate Rigg seems the most likely to stay put.
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There will also be a number of recruitments made by the club. Enzo Le Fee, who spent the second half of the season on loan at the club, set to make the move permanently.
There have also been reports of SAFC being interested in re-signing Jordan Henderson, 14 years after he left the club to join Liverpool.