After Sadiki: Sunderland in advanced talks to sign £4m star, he’s shades of Cresswell – Report…

Following Sadiki: Sunderland is in advanced negotiations to acquire a £4m talent, reminiscent of Cresswell –

Stay alert, as the next rapid transfer rumor concerning Sunderland could pass you by.

This summer, £50m has already been allocated for new signings, and it appears the Black Cats’ finances will take another hit, with reports suggesting an additional £37m is set to be spent soon to bring midfielder Noah Sadiki and Chelsea goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic into the ever-growing squad at the Stadium of Light.

It’s not uncommon for newly promoted teams to invest such significant sums, as demonstrated by Nottingham Forest, which boldly introduced 22 new players to their roster the summer following their promotion in 2022, while Sunderland is now gearing up for further acquisitions beyond the already notable names mentioned.

Sunderland is in advanced discussions for a £4m jewel.

The recent influx of £27m from Jobe Bellingham’s transfer to Borussia Dortmund has certainly been utilized effectively, in addition to Tommy Watson’s move for a more modest £10m.

Ligue 1 appears to be Sunderland’s preferred market this summer, with reports suggesting the potential addition of Lyon star Georges Mikautadze, alongside Toulouse defender and England U21 standout, Charlie Cresswell, who has caught the attention of those at Wearside following a strong performance in the U21 Euros tournament with Lee Carsley’s England.

Despite the significant spending, Sunderland must remain focused on providing opportunities for young talents, as Africa Foot now reports that Regis Le Bris and his team are in advanced talks to secure promising Lorient starlet Arthur Avom Ebong for just £4m.

Africa Foot mentions that Liverpool, Chelsea, West Ham United, and AFC Bournemouth have all previously shown interest in the 20-year-old, but Sunderland could soon secure his services on a four-year contract, with Le Bris already having a connection with the Cameroonian talent from their time together at Lorient.

Even if Sunderland ultimately falls short in their quest for Cresswell, they might still acquire a talent equally capable of making a significant impact in the English game by securing the signature of Lorient’s number 67 soon, who has just experienced a breakout season in French football himself.

How Ebong could be Cresswell 2.0

After all, the competition for the former Leeds centre-back’s services involves similarly prominent Premier League clubs, as Graham Potter’s Hammers also begin to consider the Preston-born warrior.

However, while Cresswell would demand a hefty £18m from the Black Cats, Ebong could join Le Bris’ camp for just £4m, despite having had a comparably impressive season in French football from a central midfield position.

The formidable 6-foot-3 centre-back can proudly claim an outstanding season in Ligue 1, where he achieved nine clean sheets against the formidable Paris St Germain and other top-tier teams, while Ebong has had to settle for the league below. Nevertheless, Cresswell also made a mark in the second tier of English football during his loan spell away from Leeds.

Thus, it is not far-fetched to propose that the African midfielder could also thrive in a challenging league like the Premier League, especially in a setting that values emerging talents such as the Stadium of Light.

Indeed, Ebong will look to players like the previously mentioned Bellingham for motivation, with the current Dortmund star astonishingly recording one fewer goal contribution than his African counterpart achieved in Ligue 2 while helping secure promotion for the Black Cats.

Consequently, the 20-year-old prospect will be eager to break into the Premier League soon and make an impact, especially considering Cresswell was valued at only £3.8m when he first joined Toulouse, which is merely £200k less than Ebong’s low valuation.

Now, he is valued significantly higher than the price Leeds hastily sold him for.

Sunderland is optimistic that Ebong’s value will soar similarly if he transfers to Wearside soon.

However, Le Bris and his team will at least benefit from their emerging talent while Sunderland’s rival, who was also promoted, reflects on what might have happened had they maintained a stronger hold on the England U21 international.