Sunderland signed Nilson Angulo from Anderlecht on transfer deadline day
Régis Le Bris believes Nilson Angulo has the attributes to be a strong fit for Sunderland's system after revealing that he could be named in the matchday squad at Arsenal on Saturday.
Angulo has not yet trained with his team mates on Wearside having only arrived on Thursday evening, but is match fit having played regularly for Anderlecht this season.
Sunderland pushed on with a deadline-day move for the 22-year-old Ecuador winger having been impressed with his output this season. Angulo has seven goals and eight assists in 30 appearances for the Belgian club since the start of the campaign, but also boasts very impressive defensive statistics.
That was an equally key part of Sunderland's analysis, with Le Bris noting that he had been deployed on occasion as a wing back. That gives the head coach some confidence that he will be able to take on a demanding role in his system.
"It was a point during our conversation in the video call we had with him, he played even as a left wing-back with Anderlecht, which shows that he has the physical attributes to combine both," Le bris said.
"Because for a winger, sometimes it's the case, if they have to defend more, and it's the case in the Premier League, no choices, they can lose their energy to attack. So the balance has to be combined, both phases have to be combined, and I think for him it's the case. He already showed that he's able to defend alone on the sidelines, because this is tough, and he still keeps his ability to be efficient offensively."
Le Bris's video call with Angulo and director of football Florent Ghisolfi also gave the head coach confidence that the winger will be a good fit for Sunderland's squad.
"We the usual video call to connect and to get to know each other," Le Bris said.
"Because it's important. We can assess a player watching three, four, five, six games, it depends on the time we have. So this part was done. After that, it's still interesting to have a conversation. Because we need to meet each other to find the right connection. And it's more about feelings rather than rational, I would say. So this video call was really positive with me and with Flo.
"So now we'll see on the pitch."
Sunderland moved for Angulo having decided to sanction a loan move to AS Monaco for Simon Adingra, with the Ligue 1 club holding an option to make the deal permanent this summer. Adingra had been a long-term target for the club and though at times he showed his attacking quality, he struggled to hold down a place in the starting XI.
Adingra struggled for consistency despite his obvious quality and Le Bris agreed that the defensive demands placed on his wingers might have hampered him in the final third.
"Yes, it's possible, it's a good point," Le Bris said.
"When you have to defend an attack, our wingers are really involved in our defensive system, so they might lack energy to counter-attack, to be efficient, to be clinical, to be creative in the offensive part of the game. So it's a good point."
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Regis Le Bris confirms potential Nilson Angulo debut at Arsenal
“Nilson will arrive this evening,” Le Bris said.
“We'll see when he'll be with us [how quickly he can be invovled]. He played a lot, so he's fit.
“Now it's a question of connection with his teammates, with the squad. It could be quick and I hope it will be the case. We'll see, but he could be involved on Saturday.”
Speaking on Monday night shortly after Angulo’s signing was confirmed, Le Bris said: “We have worked with the recruitment structure on his profile. I think he is a strong, powerful tall winger with strong physical ability.
“He has this South American style of play as well, with the ability to be creative. He likes the one-v-one situations, he has this character. After that, he will probably need time to connect with his team-mates and the league, but you never know, sometimes it is really quick, sometimes it takes time. But we are really happy to have him.”
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