Sunderland must avoid Jobe Bellingham repeat with key man, stats vs Chelsea show why
Sunderland saw a lot of change during the summer transfer window in preparation for their return to the Premier League.
In the summer, Sunderland spent £161m on players who Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Regis Le Bris believed were good enough to keep the Black Cats in England’s top flight.
The incomings came with departures, however, as Jobe Bellingham left Sunderland to join Borussia Dortmund in a club-record sale.
Bellingham’s departure caused controversy, but thankfully, after a good start to the season with new signings bedding in nicely, Sunderland seem clear of Premier League relegation trouble already.
Although with games coming thick and fast, the January transfer window will soon arrive, and Sunderland simply cannot afford a repeat of the Bellingham situation with one man in particular.
Sunderland can’t afford to lose Noah Sadiki
Sunderland made a good decision when they chose to replace Bellingham with Noah Sadiki.
The 20-year-old has shone so far under Le Bris, and it would be no surprise if there was heavy transfer interest in the midfield gem come January, and Sunderland simply cannot give in to pressure.
| Minutes | Accurate passes | Key passes | Dribbles (successful) | Tackles (won) | Ground duels (won) | Rating |
| 90 | 18/20 | 1 | 2 (2) | 2 (2) | 6 (5) | 7.0 |
Sadiki was once again a top performer for Sunderland, this time at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, and is emerging as a key player in Le Bris’s system.
The youngster won all but one of his six ground duels and was a main reason why Sunderland remained so resolute against a title-chasing side in the Blues, sealing a 2-1 win.
Sadiki has been nominated for the Young African Player of the Year award, and his performances for Sunderland will most likely draw attention from Premier League and European clubs.
Habib Diarra’s injury would make a Sadiki sale complicated
Habib Diarra is out with a groin injury, with a rough timeline of December being placed on the midfielder’s return, conveniently the same time that he could depart for AFCON with his home nation of Senegal.
There is no guarantee that Diarra will gain fitness quickly when he returns from injury, or that he will get up to speed with the quality of the Premier League.
Sadiki, on the other hand, is showing that he is capable of playing against top Premier League opposition, which, given his age, will make him an attractive player to other clubs.
Selling their young midfield star in January could leave Sunderland short in his defensive midfield role and without sufficient depth.
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