Sunderland have unveiled their new striker, Marc Guiu, after he completed his season-long loan move to the Stadium of Light. Régis Le Bris is building a side he hopes can do more than just fight for Premier League survival, and Guiu may play a pivotal role in the team's attack.
The deal is structured heavily in Chelsea's favour, with Sunderland paying a loan fee, all of his wages and a fine if Guiu doesn't receive an adequate number of minutes. In his interview that served as an introduction for Sunderland fans to their new striker, Guiu spoke about what he believes he can bring to the team.
"I believe I am a powerful striker and I really help the team both on and off the ball."
When asked about his thoughts ahead of the new season, Guiu described it as an "opportunity to get this club to where it deserves". The youngster will likely feature prominently, and given his team-based answers in the interview, fans may enjoy seeing him receive the minutes Chelsea demand.
Guiu is the ninth arrival at the club this summer, but Le Bris and Kristjaan Speakman are not done yet and have shifted attention to the other end of the pitch.
Centre-back next for Sunderland
regis le bris
While Sunderland have already conducted a number of big deals this window, the club aren't done yet. A report from Dominic Shaw in The Northern Echo has stated that the club is "prioritising the capture of a central defender". Shaw also added that another wide attacker is on Speakman's shopping list, but the current priority is to bring in a centre-back first.
Sunderland entered this window with the budget available to them to build a dream squad, and they have made tremendous progress so far, but now is the time for Speakman and Le Bris to polish off the squad with some final touches.
Sunderland's search for a centre-back
Sunderland have been named as one of three Premier League teams that are showing interest in Fiorentina defender Pietro Comuzzo. Italian outlet tuttomercatoweb has reported that Le Bris's team, alongside Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, have an interest in the centre back, but none of the three have yet to make a formal bid.
While the links have persisted last month, Fiorentina manager Stefano Pioli was asked about Comuzzo and the transfer rumours: "Comuzzo? He's a strong player, he's here to compete for a place and be a starter."
Earlier in the window, Sunderland were also linked to Jhon Lucumí of Bologna. Unfortunately for Sunderland fans, Sky Sports' Tom White dampened hopes that this rumour may become reality when speaking on the Haway the Podcast: "I know we have been in for him... Whether we've pulled the plug or whether he's rejected us, I don't know."
While it looks at present like Sunderland won't be able to make either of these deals happen, there is still plenty of time left in the transfer window for Le Bris to identify a new centre-back and bring them to the club.