Sunderland fans will love what winger Andre Luiz has said amid transfer links
Rio Ave winger Andre Luiz is a serious target for Sunderland in the upcoming January transfer window.
The January transfer window is just weeks away, and Sunderland now find themselves linked with a host of potential new signings.
Regis Le Bris’ men have made a great start to life back in the Premier League, sitting seventh with 19 points on the board from 12 games, already eight points clear of the relegation zone. The Black Cats will want to consolidate their position with some winter arrivals, and one name that has been thrown around regularly is Andre Luiz of Rio Ave.
A product of the famous Flamengo youth academy, Luiz has enjoyed an excellent start to the season with Rio Ave, notching four goals and four assists in 11 Primeira Liga appearances to sit sixth throughout the entire division for direct goal involvements - with three of the five players above him playing for Sporting CP or Benfica.
Luiz’s form saw him named as Rio Ave’s Player of the Month for October, off the back of also scoring a late equaliser away at Benfica in September.
Sunderland targeting Andre Luiz
Sunderland have been linked with Luiz for several weeks now, but they’re not the only ones, with Premier League rivals Brentford also mentioned, alongside Championship trio Stoke City, Norwich City and Portsmouth.
A fee of around £13.1million has been suggested for the 23-year-old winger, who is right-footed but can play on either flank, while he also has experience covering as a centre-forward. Sunderland invested heavily on the wings during the summer, signing the likes of Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi and Bertrand Traore. However, with a much stronger defensive record than offensive (14 goals scored, 11 conceded), Le Bris is unlikely to be against further attacking reinforcements.
What has Sunderland target Andre Luiz said publicly?
Luiz - who is under contract until 2028 - hasn’t commented publicly about his future. However, Sunderland supporters will be pleased to see their potential target has spoken in the past about improving his game, especially in a physical aspect, which would be key to helping him adjust to the Premier League.
“I looked at the players around me and thought, being this skinny, I had no chance,” he told O JOGO in October of his time at Flamengo. “I was too weak for the first team and too good for the ‘B’ team. But one day I scored three goals, and I never left the main squad again.”
Luiz also takes the time to review his performances now, picking out any potential weak spots or areas for improvement. He added: “Last year I was missing confidence,” he admitted. “Now I analyse my games, I try to keep the ball longer, and I’ve improved with the help of the team.”
Luiz will be in action again on Sunday when 11th-place Rio Ave host Santa Clara, who are 15th. Sunderland, meanwhile, will look to return to winning ways at home to Bournemouth on Saturday after draws against Everton and Arsenal, and a 1-0 loss away at Fulham.