How Sunderland could seal an even better transfer than Methalie

Jurgen Klopp is the only Premier League manager since Tony Pulis (while leading Crystal Palace in 2014/15) to have been awarded the division’s Manager of the Year without a league title to boot.

The process has often drawn criticism, and the Sunderland persuasion may well have felt that Regis Le Bris was hard done by last year, his Black Cats side finishing seventh after promotion from the Championship, flying straight up and into the Europa League.

Some achievement, and perhaps more impressive than Arsenal’s 85-point title-winning finish, beating underwhelming rivals to the cake.

Sunderland have plenty they need to work on, but they have a manager who has created something special at the Stadium of Light, and he now needs enough firepower to continue the drive forward. What he doesn’t need is deals for big-money targets such as Dayann Methalie falling through.

Why Sunderland’s Methalie move could fall through

Methalie, 20 years old, is emerging as something of a phenomenon in France. He has showcased immense potential in Ligue 1 with Toulouse over the past year, and has the kind of skillset as a left-back that would have elite outfits swooning down the line.

Sunderland have made him their top target, and after agreeing a £26m deal for the defender following a protracted saga, Le Bris must have breathed a sigh of relief that he had finally landed his man.

Wrong. Football can be cruel, and Methalie’s move to Wearside is indeed in jeopardy. Sunderland doctors have flagged concerns over certain physical aspects, potentially leaving Le Bris and his plans in the lurch with the season on the horizon.

REUTERS/Alexandre Dimou

If Methalie doesn’t sign, Sunderland will need a fallback. But they also need to pull off an exciting deal to lift this outfit and ensure they have what it takes to fire on all cylinders at the start of an exciting season.

Now, Sunderland should do the same, targeting a winger who could be a dream alongside the powerful goalscorer.

How Sunderland could seal a better signing than Methalie

The exciting deal to sign Methalie might be in jeopardy, but Sunderland could yet pull off an even better signing, one which caters more to the attacking deficiencies that still haven’t been sorted. Brian Brobbey needs support, and this could be the perfect way to help him.

Sunderland have completed some pragmatic business this summer – and keeping onto Brobbey is a success story in itself – but more creativity is needed, and according to Italian journalist Lorenzo Canicchio, the Black Cats are hoping to pull off a late-window move for Roma winger Matias Soule.

The Argentine has been valued at around £35m by Roma, who are eager to cash in for a pretty penny and it may well help matters that Florent Ghisolfi – who actually brought Soule to Rome in the first place – is at the centre of the deal.

Soule, 23 years old, has grown into a top talent in Italy, but has failed across two seasons in Rome to capture the same earth-shattering form that led analyst Ben Mattinson to name him “the best talent in Serie A” across 2023/24.

Operating off the right side – which aligns with Sunderland’s target area this summer – the Argentinian up-and-comer scored six goals and provided five assists in the league last season, helping Roma to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2017/18. Still, he needs to kick on now, and another season with Roma, lacking that bit of magic, could stagnate him in his growth.

A “special” technician, as has been noted by journalist Zach Lowy, Soule is a silky and elegant dribbler, but he’s not a rip-roaring, unrelenting carrier. That’s fine, though. His quick footwork and sharp thinking when on the ball and in space could see him thrive in the Premier League.

Naturally creative and technical on the ball, Soule would certainly be something of a difference-maker for Sunderland. He would certainly offer something new for the Wearsiders, and his bottomless well of creativity could be perfect for Le Bris’ creatively-shy outfit.

Soule does not hug the touchline, but he’s still a first-class delivery man. He completed 30% of his crosses in Serie A last year, putting him among the top 17% for that metric. Moreover, he completed 84.4% of his passes and 62.5% of his long balls, another illustration of a ball-playing prowess which could open a new passing lane for strikers like Brobbey.

Methalie would undoubtedly be a good signing. He is one of the most talented young full-backs around, but there’s a lot of work still to be done before he reaches elite status,

It’s clear that Le Bris’ side need more forwards if they are to build on last year’s exceptional success. Soule might just be the best signing that they could pull off.