Sunderland steal march on Chelsea in Arthur Avom race as contract discussions underway
Sunderland are leading the race to sign Arthur Avom from FC Lorient.
Avom was heavily linked with a move to Sunderland last summer, with Regis Le Bris having played a crucial role in the initial transfer link.
The Frenchman used his past connections to attract Enzo Le Fee to the Stadium of Light and attempted to do the same with Avom.
A move then failed to materialise, but the Black Cats are said to be back in the race to sign him, according to a report from Africa Foot.
In fact, the report adds that Sunderland are the side actually leading the race to sign the midfielder ahead of the likes of Chelsea and Galatasaray, who, as it stands, will be out of contract at the end of the campaign.
What do Sunderland see in Arthur Avom?
At just 21 years old, Avom is already making waves in Ligue 1, having played an influential role for FC Lorient since breaking into the first team last season.
The Cameroon midfielder has earned a reputation as a combative midfielder, and that is demonstrated by the fact that he has won 100 duels this season, with a 56.8 per cent win rate.
His ability to transition with the ball has also caught the eye this season, with 19 successful dribbles from the heart of midfield, which is something that Sunderland have lacked in the Premier League.
As demonstrated by the Sofascore graphic below, Avom has the ability to thrive at both ends of the pitch, which is an attribute that will only grow with experience.
The 21-year-old has been a regular for Cameroon since 2022, with 12 senior caps and one goal to his name in that time.
What is Avom’s latest contract situation?
As mentioned above, Avom is out of contract at the end of the season.
And the same report, which claims Sunderland are leading the race, also states that discussions are underway regarding a four-year contract with the option of an extra year.
It emphasises that an agreement has not yet been reached, with negotiations still underway ahead of what will be a crucial summer in deciding his future.
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