EFL remain tight-lipped on Sunderland takeover as Kyril Louis-Dreyfus deal nears

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus attended the Shrewsbury Town defeat in midweek and has been on Wearside this week at the Academy of Light and the Stadium of Light.

Despite the defeat it was a significant moment to see Louis-Dreyfus pictured at a Sunderland game with the takeover in the final stages of the EFL approval process.

The Echo has approached the EFL for comment about the process but they have again declined, they do not usually comment on ongoing takeover deals.

Sunderland are waiting for final approval from the EFL, which once granted will see Stewart Donald sell a majority of his shares to Louis-Dreyfus, who will take charge at the Stadium of Light.

On Tuesday night, the prospective new chairman watched on alongside Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman, who will be the key figure in leading the planned overhaul of the club's footballing structure.

Johnson confirmed that there had been contact since the takeover deal was first announced in December and spoke openly about it on Thursday.

Speaking about the takeover yesterday at his pre-match press conference, head coach Lee Johnson said: “I'm very, very confident in his motives.

"I'm very confident in his ideas, he's bright, intelligent and he's got good ideas.

"Obviously he's got experience as well, and it reminds me a bit of myself in terms of my dad being a manager, and having the front-row seat as I grew up.

"He's had that with his family and their ownership of Olympique de Marseille and Club Brugge.

"Every contact I've had with Kyril impresses me more and more.

"He's got a sound board behind him depending on how the shake up works, in terms of experience of what's gone well and what hasn't gone well.

"When I came to the club I really believed that we needed to be brave.”

Sunderland's defeat at Shrewsbury left them seventh in the table ahead of the visit of Doncaster Rovers this weekend.

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