Sunderland aim to beat Newcastle to signing of European semi-finalist
Regis Le Bris is on the hunt for a defender this summer as he looks to improve Sunderland’s options.
The Black Cats have already been weakened at the back since their play-off victory, as Chris Mepham returned to Bournemouth after his loan spell.
On top of this, Trai Hume is linked with a move to Wolves, which could mean that Sunderland need a left-back as well as a central defender.
However, Le Bris is already targeting potential replacements in preparation for their upcoming Premier League campaign.
Sunderland target Djurgarden star Keita Kosugi
With the transfer window now open, Le Bris has wasted no time in finding targets.
According to On The Minute (8 June), Sunderland are interested in signing Keita Kosugi.
The youngster has impressed at Djurgarden as he helped the Swedish side reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
Kosugi has played 45 matches for his club and was highly impressive against Chelsea earlier this season.
| Keita Kosugi’s record at Djurgarden | |
| Europa Conference League appearances | 11 |
| Total Appearances | 45 |
| Goals | 5 |
| Assists | 2 |
The left-back is one of the most sought-after youngsters in Europe, with the Japanese star being just 19 years old.
Now, the report suggests that Sunderland have entered the race for his signature.
Djurgarden want under £8 million for the full-back, who can play on both flanks.
However, the Black Cats face competition from Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, PSG, Celtic and Atlanta.
Kosugi would be a worthy Sunderland investment
As much as Sunderland need to prepare for the Premier League, they also need to safeguard their future.
With Kosugi being an excellent upcoming talent, for under £8 million, he would be a fantastic buy.
While it is unclear if he would be an immediate first-team player or simply a squad option, the Japanese Under 20s international has great versatility and European experience.
Hopefully, Le Bris will look to get the transfer done as soon as possible and bring Kosugi into the Stadium of Light before the other interested parties act.