The latest transfer talk from Sunderland as updates are delivered on two reported Black Cats targets.

Sunderland and Nottingham Forest will face competition from a big-spending Saudi Pro League club if they opt to ramp up their interest in a Serie A defender.

The Black Cats have added just one new face to their ranks since the end of last season after Belgium international Thomas Meunier penned a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light following his departure from Lille earlier this summer. The experienced full-back will hope to help Regis Le Bris’ squad as they look to challenge on a number of fronts during the new season after they qualified for the Europa League for the first time in their history.

With a demanding fixture schedule lying in wait over the coming months, Le Bris has stressed the need to add further new additions to his ranks - although he admitted he was not expecting the hectic summer transfer window he experienced 12 months ago as the Black Cats prepared to return to the Premier League.

Speaking after Saturday’s win at York, Le Bris said: "I'm never relaxed, I don't know this word! But yes, it's a bit different this summer. Last season, we had to sign 14 new players and this time we'll probably go for six or seven. It's half of the job we've done last season, so it's going to be different. More precise, which is good because we have a strong foundation. We never know because the market is slow this season. It's better to wait and to take the right decision rather than rushing anything."

One name that was linked with a move to Sunderland last summer was Colombia international Jhon Lucumi - and reports in Italy have suggested the Black Cats, Forest and Serie A giants Inter and Juventus are all keen on the Bologna centre-back as he enters the final 12 months of his current contract. Juve are said to have made an attempt to lower Lucumi’s asking price by offering youngster Vasilije Adzic as part of the deal - but Bologna have refused to less their demands. Bologna-based outlet Il Resto del Carlino has claimed Lucumi will prioritise talks to remain in Italy - but also claim Saudi club Al-Hilal, who have spent big on the likes of Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo in recent seasons, are also keen on the defender.

Sunderland and Dortmund ‘lurking’ in race for World Cup star

Balogun played for England's Under-21s before switching his allegiance to the USA | Getty Images

Monaco star Folarin Balogun became one of the stories of the World Cup finals when US president Donald Trump appeared to get involved in a decision to overturn a red card the striker received against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

With his side’s involvement in the tournament ended by a last-16 defeat against Belgium, all talk has gone on what comes next for Balogun at club level after Juventus were linked with a move for the former Arsenal forward. However, Spanish outlet El Mundo Deportivo have now claimed Sunderland and Borussia Dortmund are also providing ‘very interesting options’ for the striker. The 25-year-old still has two years remaining on his Monaco contract and is said to be value at over £50m by the Ligue 1 club.

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