Sunderland are braced for serious interest in one player from a Saudi Pro League side, who've shortlisted him as a 'priority' summer signing.
Players who could leave Sunderland this summer
Sunderland's stellar debut season back in the Premier League has drawn attention to several of their players, and the summer is shaping up to be a significant one at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris before the match
Régis Le Bris has built something worth watching on Wearside, but the natural consequence of a successful first campaign in the top flight is that the best players attract serious interest from elsewhere.
Goalkeeper Robin Roefs has been one of the standout performers across the entire league this season, drawing reported potential bids of up to £60m from the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City, as we have relayed in previous pieces.
Sunderland's best performers in the Premier League — 2025/2026 Average Match Rating
Nordi Mukiele 7.01/10
Dan Ballard 7.01/10
Granit Xhaka 6.97/10
Omar Alderete 6.95/10
Robin Roefs 6.73/10
via WhoScored
The 23-year-old Dutchman is contracted until 2030 and Sunderland are under no obligation to sell, but offers at that level are hard to ignore for a club still establishing itself among the elite.
Noah Sadiki's debut season in England has also caught the attention of clubs across Europe, with the midfielder impressing consistently under Le Bris.
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Liam Rosenior's side are considering a Stadium of Light raid.
Man United and Chelsea have both been linked previously, and the club's model means that selling one or two key assets this summer is not out of the question, with the proceeds potentially used to fund further development of the squad (Sunderland Echo).
Meanwhile, Wilson Isidor has attracted from the likes of Nottingham Forest, and Dennis Cirkin's contract situation remains unresolved.
The latest name to emerge as a potential departure is one that will surprise supporters.
Saudi side eyeing 'small fortune' move for Sunderland's Habib Diarra
According to French outlet Média Foot, Habib Diarra has become a target for a Saudi Pro League club this summer, with the unnamed side prepared to commit significant funds to bring the midfielder to the Middle East.
habib-diarra-sunderland
The report describes the situation as being at an early stage — an initial approach has been made — but the interest is real and the financial intent behind it is considerable.
Diarra, 22, had a difficult start to his first season on Wearside.
He underwent groin surgery in September shortly after completing a £30m switch from Strasbourg, a move that disrupted what had been anticipated as an explosive Premier League debut campaign.
Diarra was absent for three months before finally returning to action at the end of 2025.
Since that comeback, the picture has changed markedly. Le Bris has made him a regular fixture in his starting 11 and Diarra has found his rhythm again.
Sunderland's Habib Diarra
He also featured for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations — a tournament that ended with Morocco being awarded the title on paper after a controversial ruling — which raised his profile further on the international stage.
Saudi clubs have already demonstrated a willingness to pay premium prices for players at a similar stage of their career, and Diarra's combination of age, technical ability and profile makes him the type of profile that appeals to ambitious sides in the Pro League looking to add credibility to their squads.
The mystery outfit are said to have listed Diarra as a 'priority' target, and are ready to pay a 'small fortune' for the Black Cats star, as per Media Foot.
For Sunderland, the decision will be a familiar one: is the fee on offer sufficient to justify losing a player who was brought in as a core part of the project? At £30m barely a year ago, any Saudi bid would need to represent a meaningful profit to even enter negotiations.
No formal offer has arrived yet, and both parties are at a preliminary stage. But with a summer of potential movement already building around the club, this is one situation worth monitoring closely.
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Regis Le Bris' side are admirers.