A player that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has just turned down could now be on his way to a League One club.
Sunderland have been fairly quiet in the transfer window so far, snapping up their first signing in Simon Moore last month.
They have since been looking to invest in a new experienced midfielder, having initially been linked with former Sheffield United man Oliver Norwood.
However, they now look set to snap up Alan Browne, with the Preston North End legend set for a medical at the club today.
The Black Cats did have the option of another midfielder this month, with the club holding the option to make Callum Styles’ loan spell into a permanent deal.
The Hungary international made 12 appearances during the second half of the campaign, though was mostly played out of position due to a long list of injuries.
Styles was eager to prove himself on the international stage at Euro 2024, but it was recently confirmed that they would not be keeping him on and he swiftly returned to Barnsley.
Birmingham City targeting ex-Sunderland ace
The 24-year-old is reportedly eager to leave the Yorkshire outfit once again though, with journalist Alan Nixon claiming that Birmingham City are now ‘looking at a deal’.
Nixon wrote via his Patreon: “Ambitious Birmingham City are looking at a deal for Barnsley midfield play-maker Callum Styles.
“The Hungarian international can move for around £500,000 and is now on the Blues radar as they look to get out of League One.
“Styles was on loan at the Black Cats but is looking to move on. There is Championship interest but Birmingham have more cash than most in this window.”
Callum Styles is a League One player
Given Styles long-term success at Barnsley, it would make a lot more sense for him to return to a League One club that is also likely to come straight back up.
A move to St Andrews would make it clear that Sunderland definitely made the right decision though, as it came obvious very quickly that he wasn’t cut out for life in the Championship.
Perhaps the Stadium of Light just wasn’t the best place for him though, as he was mostly played at left wing-back and was also in a squad that really struggled in general for months after Tony Mowbray left.
However he performs next, it’s safe to say Sunderland won’t regret letting him go.