Regis Le Bris confirms contact with Sunderland transfer target as January plans emerge
Regis Le Bris has confirmed that he keeps in regular contact with an international midfielder who has been linked with a January move to Sunderland.
Sunderland are gearing up to face Fulham on Saturday, with hopes of adding to their already impressive points tally after 11 games.
However, while Le Bris and his squad will be focused on what is next on the pitch, Florent Ghisolfi and co will be working behind the scenes to get the Black Cats prepared for any business that will be done in January.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has stated Sunderland’s ambitions for the window, with the addition of another central midfielder on the cards.
Sunderland want to sign Matteo Guendouzi in January
The Black Cats were linked with Matteo Guendouzi in the winter, and that interest seems to have resurfaced again ahead of the winter window.
Guendouzi remains a target for Sunderland, with several other Premier League clubs said to be interested in a potential deal.
Granit Xhaka could have a role to play in making a deal happen, given that the duo spent time together at Arsenal, as will Le Bris, whose relationship with the French midfielder started at Lorient.
Speaking ahead of Sunderland’s clash with Fulham, Le Bris confirmed that he remains in contact with Guendouzi but refused to add further comment as to whether they would be pursuing a deal for him.
As quoted by Keith Downie on X, he said: “We still have connections with players, and Matteo is one of those players.
“I worked with him (previously) in Lorient, so we stay connected. But at the moment it’s too early to speak about the January transfer window.”
Matteo Guendouzi is a fan of Regis Le Bris
It seemed like an overly ambitious deal in the summer, but with the business that Sunderland were able to do, it’s now a realistic move.
Despite the pair going different ways after a stint at Lorient, it seems they have been keeping a close eye on how each other have been getting on with their careers, and Guendouzi admitted that he expected Le Bris to find the success that he has.
Earlier this year, he said: “Honestly, his results at Sunderland don’t surprise me.
“A year with him is perhaps the equivalent of three with other coaches. You learn a lot about yourself. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Sunderland will likely be prioritising another forward signing, though another central midfielder would make sense given the depth they will need.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Sunderland news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account –@mackemnews247