Sunderland and Alexandre Mendy remains an ongoing transfer saga for the Black Cats.
Sunderland play their first home game of the season this weekend, welcoming Sheffield Wednesday to the Stadium of Light.
The two teams have been through a lot in the past few months.
The Owls beat Sunderland 2-0 on the final day of last season to secure their Championship safety, with Sunderland then taking an interest in Wednesday boss Danny Rohl, before signing Ian Poveda following his impressive loan spell with the club.
Sunderland signed Poveda earlier this summer, marking their fourth signing of the summer.
Yet with just two weeks of the summer transfer window left, Sunderland are yet to sign a striker, and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman appears to be no closer to signing one either.
Sunderland target Alexandre Mendy remains a man in headlines, and seemingly a man on the Black Cats’ radar.
Recent reports claimed that Sunderland want to sign Mendy for £2.5million and that the Wearsiders are hoping Mendy’s willingness to leave Caen will force the Ligue 2 club into lowering their price tag.
- READ MORE: Latest Sunderland transfer miss should be extremely worrying for Speakman and Louis-Dreyfus
Caen boss speaks out on Sunderland interest in Alexandre Mendy
There’s been a number of twists and turns surrounding the Mendy to Sunderland saga this summer.
Now, Caen boss Nicolas Seube has spoken out on the matter, telling French outlet Ouest: “He [Mendy] is in individual training with the athletic trainers.
“The situation is delicate and difficult to sort out.
“Of course, as coach, I’d like him to be able to join the squad so that we have an extra attacking weapon.
“I hope that between now and the end of the summer transfer window, we’ll find the best formula.
“I’ve given my opinion on this subject and it’s not up to me. I’ll keep the discussions we’ve had together to myself.
“It’s an unpleasant situation for everyone, the player, the club, the new shareholders and me as coach.
“For the moment, everyone is losing out in this story. The idea is for us to find a win-win situation.”
Seube also added that Mendy will not feature in Caen’s Ligue 2 opener vs Paris FC this weekend.
- READ MORE: Sunderland must consider £1.3m striker wanted in Championship as Alexandre Mendy alternative
The message is clear for Sunderland and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
A few things are apparant over this whole saga; Mendy wants to leave Caen, Sunderland want to sign Mendy, and Caen don’t want to sell him on the cheap.
Likewise, Sunderland don’t want to pay more than what they think Mendy is worth.
Another certainty right now is that Sunderland are in desperate need of a striker, and so the onus is with Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus to make the move happen.
Sunderland signed Romaine Mundle for £2million, spending similar amounts on the likes of Dan Ballard and Nazariy Rusyn beforehand, so we know that Louis-Dreyfus will spend money when needed.
But whether or not Sunderland think Mendy is worth that amount, or much more, which is want Caen want, remains to be seen.
Like Seube says, the situation is dragging on and nobody is winning right now; Sunderland included.
Louis-Dreyfus, is he really wants Sunderland to succeed this season, and if he and Speakman really think Mendy can succeed with the club, should simply pay up, settle the matter and get Mendy in sooner rather than later.
Sunderland can’t go another window without signing a striker.