Sunderland AFC news: Move for Lille defender ruled out, Allardyce challenges squad, transfer latest

Transfer news continues to dominate the headlines as clubs prepare for the 2016-17 Premier League campaign.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th May 2016, 12:28 BST
Updated 24th May 2016, 13:33 BST

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Sam AllardyceSam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce

Sunderland are among a number of teams weighing up a move for Lyon winger Rachid Ghezzal.

The 24-year-old French-born Algerian wideman only has a year remaining on his contract at the French giants with his future very much in doubt.

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Several Premier League teams - plus sides in Spain - are monitoring his contract situation with Allardyce and Sunderland well-placed to swoop thanks to strong links in France.

An attacking midfielder/winger is high on the summer wish-list with Sunderland also tracking Swansea City’s Andre Ayew.

Click here for the full story:Meanwhile, Sunderland's hopes of breaking the annual cycle of relegation woe will rest on the opening five games of the new Premier League campaign.

That is the view of Sam Allardyce, who insists the opening weeks of the season are the most important in setting the tone for what is to come.

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"I wouldn’t want to go through what I went through when I first got here," reflected Allardyce.

"You would strive very hard to make sure our first five games are our most important next year.

"The challenge to the team that starts next season - whatever we do recruitment wise, business wise, player wise - is that the team starts off by winning two or three of the first five, not losing them which they have done for the last four seasons.

"If you lose those games, you know then it always becomes the inevitable relegation struggle.

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"If you do not win any of the first five, what a struggle it becomes after that."And finally, the Daily Mail are reporting that Sunderland have pulled out of the race for Lille full-back Djibril Sidibe.

Lille are said to be looking to raise £12 million for the defender, who is being tracked by a host of Premier League sides including West Ham United, Everton and Arsenal with Watford the club said to be leading the race to sign him.

Big Sam is in the market for full-backs this summer but it appears the Frenchman would cost too much.

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Related topics:Sam AllardycePremier LeagueTransfer NewsSunderland AFCSpain