A Sunderland summer transfer target is not training with his current club, as he waits a summer move to Wearside.
Sunderland officials may be getting wary of the lack of signings so far this summer, with the 2024/25 Championship season kicking off in less than two weeks.
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has brought in three new players so far this summer with Sunderland signing Ian Poveda last week; he joins Simon Moore and Alan Browne as the Black Cats’ summer signings.
A striker signing remains the priority for Sunderland, with Speakman outlining the club’s plans to sign a striker earlier in the summer transfer window.
However, a new striker is yet to arrive. Sunderland have tabled a £2.5million bid for an unnamed striker and are also interested in a striker who played in the Championship last season.
Michael Graham though has played down Sunderland links to Ike Ugbo.
Meanwhile, Sunderland want to sign Alexandre Mendy from Caen, after his impressive 2023/24 season in Ligue 2.
Alexandre Mendy not training with Caen as he awaits Sunderland transfer
Mendy scored 22 goals in Ligue 1 last season. Since, he’s had links to Sunderland to Saudi Arabia, though it seems like the Black Cats are the most keen.
Recent reports claimed that Mendy was undergoing a Sunderland medical, though they were quickly shot down.
Caen want €5million for Mendy, but it’s been suggested that the Ligue 2 club believe they won’t get a figure near to that number.
Now, reports from French newspaper Ouest-France (via Sport Witness) say that Mendy is not currently training with Caen, as he awaits a transfer away from the club, ideally to Sunderland.
Sunderland and Regis Le Bris now face potential pitfall with Alexandre Mendy move
With Regis Le Bris set to lead Sunderland into the new season very shortly, he’ll not only be hoping to have a new striker in the building by then, but a match-fit one as well.
If Mendy is not training right now then he’s likely not match-fit. And if the saga drags on and Mendy arrives after a two or three-week break then it’ll take him a lot of time to get up to speed.
So Sunderland really need to manage this situation carefully and ensure that Le Bris not only gets a decent striker, but that he has one sooner rather than later too.
And for Mendy, if he wants to hit the ground running upon his next transfer, he should really be keeping himself match-fit, not just fit.