Sunderland may have found AFCON solution after what Regis Le Bris said about Lutsharel Geertruida
Lutsharel Geetruida joined Sunderland on loan on deadline day.
Sunderland’s summer transfer business saw 14 new players at the Stadium of Light, giving them various options that they can utilise throughout the course of the campaign.
However, concerns still linger over how Sunderland will adapt to AFCON, with several key players set to jet off in December to represent their country.
Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra are just two of them, raising the question as to what the Black Cats will do to ensure that they find a competitive balance in their midfield for that period.
Now, it seems like Regis Le Bris could have found the answer.
Regis Le Bris hails Lutsharel Geetruida’s versatility
Sunderland’s efforts to sign Jhon Lucumi fell short in the summer, leading them to a late change in targets ahead of the deadline.
They moved fast to bring Geetruida to Wearside, and in quotes reported by the Sunderland Echo, Le Bris has hinted at a possible midfield solution when AFCON comes around.
“I believe that his best position is probably centre-back,” the Sunderland boss said.
“I think that is his main target, but he is really versatile. When we speak about positions, we speak about different roles. He can play at centre-back, but he could also play a bit wider or even in the midfield.
“We will try to exploit this profile, and we will see what the opportunities will be in the next few weeks.”
Should be used in midfield, he would likely be partnered by Enzo Le Fee and Granit Xhaka, who has certainly hit the ground running at Sunderland.
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Lutsharel Geetruida was a smart piece of business by Sunderland
Not only is Geetruida a quality player, but he can play in various positions.
Throughout his career, he has featured 161 times at right-back, registering a respectable 31 goal contributions, with 115 appearances at centre-back.
- Right-back – 161 appearances
- Centre-back – 115 appearances
- Defensive midfield – 20 appearances
- Left-back – 7 appearances
- Right midfield – 4 appearances
- Central midfield – 2 appearances
He is known for his ability on the ball and tendency to get forward, possibly making him the perfect fit for a midfield role at Sunderland come December.
Either way, his addition gives Le Bris several options that could bolster their chances of picking up points in a very tough Christmas period.
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