Heading into the final days of the January transfer window, which at times has been chaotic in the Premier League, Sunderland have been uncharacteristically quiet.
The only notable incoming through the door for Regis Le Bris' men has been youngster Jocelin Ta Bi joining from Maccabi Netanya, but the 20-year-old winger is definitely a signing with the future more in mind.
Will Le Bris and Co. suddenly spark back into life?
After all, they splashed the cash without any fear present in the summer, coming in at a whopping £162m spent, as some late moves could still be on the cards...
Premier League club spending summer 2025 (timeless)
Sunderland gifted chance to sign £21m star
Amazingly, the bold Black Cats would even trump Manchester City's wild transfer habits in the summer, when spending an outrageous £162m on fresh recruits, as a Premier League newcomer.
They're way off that amount this time around, with only £3.5m forked out on Ta Bi's services, but they have been offered the opportunity to land ex-Aston Villa attacker Moussa Diaby, who would surely break their bank, considering his previous £50m valuation.
Al Ittihad's Moussa Diaby celebrates after the match
Alongside Diaby, the top-flight overachievers have also been gifted the chance to snap up former Manchester United starlet Angel Gomes, according to a new report from TEAMTalk.
While the report does lead with the fact that Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the driver's seat over snapping up the £21m-rated midfielder, with a loan-to-buy deal allegedly close to being agreed, it is also stated that Sunderland - alongside a whole raft of other Premier League sides - have been approached regarding his availability.
Lille's Angel Gomes scores their second goal from the penalty spot
Lille's Angel Gomes scores their second goal from the penalty spot
Gomes is open to a move back to England, after struggling at Marseille to date, with Le Bris perhaps the perfect manager to get the very best out of the number eight again, considering his monumental impact on Enzo Le Fee's revitalised career.
How Gomes could be Le Bris' next Le Fee
Much like Gomes, who has been in the limelight from a very early age after breaking out at the Red Devils, Le Fee was tipped for big things as a youngster at hometown side Lorient. Over 142 senior appearances at the Stade du Moustoir, he would score 8 goals and record 15 assists as a skilful, slick midfield prospect.
He hasn't had things all his own way, though, with Le Fee then falling victim to two goalless spells lining up for Rennes and Roma, before being handed a career lifeline at the Stadium of Light by his former Lorient boss, Le Bris. Safe to say, he has looked like a man reborn under his methods.
The 25-year-old has since been lauded as a "delightful" talent to watch by Sunderland-based journalist James Copley, and for good reason, too, with Le Fee already up to a dazzling four goals and four assists this season in all competitions, after collecting a blistering four-goal contributions in the second tier, from only 18 encounters.
Gomes will hope he can become a Premier League-calibre performer under Le Bris, finally, having been discarded by the powers that be at Old Trafford before he could fully shine, with his displays in Ligue 1 - especially for Lille - showing off a talent capable of offering up a moment of magic from nothing, like Le Fee.
Across 134 games for Lille, Gomes would regularly stand out as a "sensational" star, as one analyst labelled him, who could unlock defences with ease, as seen in his hefty tally of 19 assists for Les Dogues. Fellow professional Jonathan Panzo would also refer to him as a "magician" off the back of his ingenious footballing IQ to create chances galore, which saw him amass 26 big chances created in total.
With a respectable four goals next to his name from limited appearances under Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille, it does feel as if Le Bris could be just the manager to get Gomes back to his Lille peak on Wearside, with the English maestro also capable of lining up all across the midfield positions, in a similar way to Le Fee.
Gomes' career numbers (CM, AM, LM) vs Le Fee
Position
CM (Gomes)
AM (Gomes)
LM (Gomes)
CM (Le Fee)
AM (Le Fee)
LM (Le Fee)
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Amazingly, the London-born sensation actually trumps his French counterpart, when assessing their side-by-side numbers in the midfield positions, in every single area, with Le Bris surely licking his lips at the prospect of having another versatile and productive star in his ranks.
Gomes will also be champing at the bit to prove himself as a Premier League-worthy talent, as Sunderland potentially land a superb late purchase, if a last-ditch move can be finalised in time.
moussa-diaby-al-ittihad Related
[Sunderland offered "fantastic" ex-Aston Villa forward who once cost £50m](https://www.footballfancast.com/sunderland-offered-chance-to-sign-moussa-diaby-transfer-news/ "Sunderland offered "fantastic" ex-Aston Villa forward who once cost £50m")
The Black Cats could welcome additions before deadline day.