Sunderland in £26m race to sign French international who admires Regis Le Bris
Plans are already in place at the Stadium for Light in regard to January recruitment.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has already reiterated Sunderland’s transfer plans for January, and they look set to have another real go.
The Black Cats are in European football conversations as a result of their solid start to the season, and they will only grow stronger if they can recruit well.
With that in mind, reports from Italy have linked the Wearisders with another midfield addition, and he is a big fan of Regis Le Bris.
Matteo Guendouzi back on Sunderland radar
Football Italia reported this week that Sunderland are back in the race to sign Matteo Guendouzi.
Guendouzi was linked with a move to the Stadium of Light in the summer, though Lazio’s high demands made a deal unlikely, with the Black Cats then moving on to sign his former teammate Granit Xhaka.
Now it’s claimed that it could take an offer in the region of £25million to secure his services, with the midfielder no longer seen as untouchable by Maurizio Sarri.
Since joining the Serie A outfit from Marseille in 2023, Guendouzi has been a regular under the Italian, and has started nine of their 11 games so far this season.
Aston Villa have also been reported to have an interest, though the Le Bris factor may be crucial if Sunderland are to pursue a deal in January.
Regis Le Bris has been hailed by Matteo Guendouzi
Guendouzi started his career at Lorient, which is where Le Bris arrived at Sunderland from.
The two have known each other since, and in an interview earlier this year, Guendouzi praised Le Bris and insisted that his success at Sunderland was only a matter of time.
“Honestly, his results at Sunderland don’t surprise me,” the French-capped midfielder said.
“He’s been able to adapt to a league that demands a lot of intensity, using, I imagine, his tactical sense. The coach eats football for lunch, dinner, and sleeps.
“At Lorient, he was already in his office at 7am and was still working at 7.30pm. He’s meticulous, picky, and doesn’t overlook any detail.
“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.”
That relationship would certainly sway a deal in favour of Sunderland, who will be set to lose Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra to international duty when AFCON starts in December.
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