Sunderland linked with England international amid Newcastle transfer battle and fresh midfield claim – round-up
Sunderland have been linked with a Premier League defender and a new midfield option ahead of the summer window.
Sunderland have been linked with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Arthur Avom ahead of the summer window.
Sunderland continue to be linked with new names as Florent Ghisolfi prepares for a significant summer transfer window at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats are planning for another Premier League campaign as well as Europa League football after finishing seventh under Régis Le Bris, meaning the squad is expected to need further depth and quality across a number of positions.
Sunderland are expected to be busy this summer, with extra European fixtures making squad depth a major priority. The club will need to balance incoming business with exits, particularly as Ghisolfi assesses the wage budget, squad registration picture and the players who may need permanent moves for the good of their own careers. Here is the latest from the transfer rumour mill:
Arthur Avom to Wearside link remerges
Sunderland and Bournemouth have been credited with interest in Lorient midfielder Arthur Avom, with Union Berlin also said to be monitoring the 21-year-old. According to German outlet Bild, Union Berlin are keeping close tabs on Avom and could look to make a move this summer. The report claims Premier League duo Bournemouth and Sunderland are also watching the Cameroon international, which could complicate matters for the Bundesliga club.
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Avom is a defensive midfielder currently with Lorient and is viewed as a promising profile. Bild reports that he made 31 Ligue 1 appearances last season, scoring twice and registering one assist, while he has also already earned senior international caps for Cameroon. From a Sunderland perspective, the link is an interesting one given Le Bris’ strong knowledge of the French market and his previous Lorient connections. The Black Cats already have significant midfield competition, but European football will place extra strain on the squad and could lead Sunderland to explore younger, high-upside options.
Sunderland linked with Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Sunderland have also been named among the clubs monitoring West Ham United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. According to ExWHUEmployee, via The West Ham Way, Everton are thought to be one of the clubs keen on the 28-year-old, while Sunderland, Newcastle United, Fulham and Fenerbahce are also said to be watching the situation.
Goodison News, also citing ExWHUEmployee via The West Ham Way, claims Everton are currently the most advanced in the race and that West Ham could look for a fee in the region of £15million to £20million. Wan-Bissaka would certainly be an ambitious link.
He has extensive Premier League experience with Crystal Palace, Manchester United and West Ham, and would add proven defensive quality at full-back. Sunderland already have Trai Hume and Nordi Mukiele as right-sided options, though Hume’s versatility means Le Bris has often been able to use him in different roles. At this stage, the Wan-Bissaka link appears to be one to watch rather than anything more advanced from a Sunderland perspective, particularly with Everton said to be further along.