Sadiki has been a huge success since joining the Black Cats in a £15m move from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise last summer, with his all-action midfield displays having been a key feature of the club’s successful return to the top-flight.
Those performances have hardly gone unnoticed, and have resulted in various media outlets linking the 21-year-old with a potential move to Old Trafford.
Manchester United are looking to overhaul a midfield unit that has malfunctioned repeatedly this season, and are understood to regard Sadiki as one of their priority targets.
There have been suggestions that the Old Trafford hierarchy are willing to include Manuel Ugarte in a possible deal for the Sunderland midfielder, with PSR considerations meaning a cash-plus-player deal would be more attractive to Manchester United than a straight purchase.
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It doesn’t matter what offer is placed on the table this month, though, as Sunderland’s executive team are adamant Sadiki will not be going anywhere.
The DR Congo international signed a five-year contract when he moved to Wearside in the summer, and the Black Cats’ strong financial position means they are not obliged to sell anyone, even if they opt to make additions of their own this month.
They certainly have no interest in entertaining offers for Sadiki, who is regarded as one of the club’s ‘crown jewels’ given his rate of development this season and potential for further improvement given his age and relative lack of Premier League experience.
While Regis Le Bris has indicated a willingness to listen to offers for some of Sunderland’s fringe players, with Dan Neil still expected to move on before the end of the month given his lack of involvement so far this season, the Black Cats boss is understandably keen to keep the first-team squad that has been playing regularly this season fully intact.
Sadiki is a key part of that squad, and while it remains to be seen whether Manchester United opt to formalise their current interest, any approach will be firmly rebuffed.
Sunderland completed an incoming deal of their own last week, signing winger Jocelin Ta Bi from Israeli side Maccabi Netanya, and there is a chance that could be their only signing of the window. Alternatively, they could look to bring in another central midfielder if Neil leaves.