‘Mateo Guendouzi next’ as Sunderland agree club-record Habib Diarra transfer

Sunderland have agreed a deal that will see Habib Diarra become their second signing of the summer.

Transfer activity on Wearside is starting to heat up, with plenty of movement expected over the next week as Sunderland return for pre-season training.

With Enzo Le Fee already through the door on a permanent deal, the Black Cats are edging closer to two more additions, with Marcin Bulka thought to be an imminent arrival, alongside Diarra.

Sunderland were said to have lodged a bid for the Strasbourg midfielder on Friday evening, with the transfer moving along as planned.

Habib Diarra Sunderland
Credit: Imago

Sunderland agree £30.3m signing of Diarra

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus will be fully aware of the need for the Black Cats to show ambition this summer, and amid all of the latest transfer links, they certainly are.

Sunderland are set to smash their transfer record to bring Diarra to Wearside, after Fabrizio Romano reported that a deal has been agreed.

StrasbourgGamesPass accuracyGoal contributions
Diarra3086.5%9
Diarra thrived in Ligue 1 and could replicate that in the Premier League.

The Black Cats will pay £30.3million for the midfielder, beating Leeds United to his signature, though he may not be their only addition in that area this summer.

According to RMC Sport (28 June), ex-Arsenal midfielder and current France international Mateo Guendouzi is also on their radar, with his relationship with Regis Le Bris said to make any potential deal far more viable.

Regis Le Bris looking neutral at the Stadium of Light
Credit: Imago

Sunderland are not here to take part in Premier League

Sunderland are already favourites to go straight back down into the Championship, but with recruitment plans in place, it seems as though they are going to make a remarkable attempt at preventing that from happening.

Of course, several more additions will be needed, but all of the signs at the Stadium of Light are more than promising, with just less than two months to go until the Premier League campaign gets underway.

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