Sunderland ‘could be set to sign fifth centre-midfielder’ after Matt O’Riley update
Regis Le Bris has a plethora of midfield options ahead of Sunderland’s return to the Premier League.
Sunderland‘s summer spend is set to surpass the £130million mark with the expected arrival of Omar Alderete from Getafe.
Plenty of those funds have been used to bolster the midfield options Le Bris will have in the top flight, with the likes of Granit Xhaka and Habib Diarra already checking in at the Stadium of Light.
However, as per the latest reports, the Black Cats may not be done there in terms of midfield arrivals, with a new update emerging on the future of Brighton’s Matt O’Riley.
O’Riley greenlights Juventus transfer amid Sunderland interest
As per a report from Tuttosport, Sunderland had shown an interest in O’Riley, who has since opted for a move to Juventus.
The Danish midfielder has struggled with injuries since his arrival at Brighton, which has seemingly seen him fall down the pecking order at the Amex.
| Brighton | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists |
| O’Riley | 21 | 11 | 2 | 2 |
However, the very fact that Sunderland had shown an interest showcases that they may not be done in terms of midfield signings, and perhaps for good reason.
Alan Browne could be on his way out, and with Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki almost nailed on to jet off to AFCON in December, Sunderland’s options will be weakened significantly.
Who else will Sunderland lose to AFCON?
AFCON, or otherwise known as SAFCON as a result of the number of African arrivals on Wearside, will present a huge challenge for the Black Cats.
Diarra and Sadiki are just two of six first-team players who could be away for the competition.
- Habib Diarra – Senegal
- Noah Sadiki – DR Congo
- Chemsdine Talbi – Morocco
- Arthur Masuaku – DR Congo
- Reinildo – Mozambique
- Simon Adingra – Ivory Coast
This will weaken the Sunderland side significantly, and the hierarchy will almost certainly be aware of the need for cover throughout that period.
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