klasemen-tim-nasional-sepak-bola-swiss.comda betsul： Sunderland have been dealt some reality checks across recent matches in the Premier League, during a season that has largely been the stuff of dreams.
da dobrowin： Indeed, past the halfway mark of the campaign now, and Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats are nowhere near the drop zone in the difficult division, with the Wearside giants, amazingly, only five points shy of Arne Slot’s Liverpool who occupy fourth spot.
Still, they’ll need to guard against any complacency creeping in to ensure the season continues to be an overwhelming success, with no wins coming their way across their last five Premier League contests.
January could help boost their ranks, which have been stretched due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Sunderland prepare £10m bid for new defender
Le Bris would have been very impressed with his team’s commitment levels in the FA Cup on the weekend, as their dire run of matches in the league was put to one side, securing a passage through to the fourth round at Everton.
Robin Roefs was the hero between the sticks as he remarkably saved all of Everton’s penalty kicks in a dramatic shootout, with Sunderland now preparing to land another defensive bargain, much like winning the Dutchman for only £11.5m last summer.
Reports from Spain suggest that Sunderland are preparing a £10m bid for Real Madrid full-back Ferland Mendy, with the LaLiga giants preparing to cash in on a star who has been far too injury-prone over the past couple of seasons in Madrid.
It’s stated, however, despite Mendy’s recurring injury issues, that the Black Cats see him as a worthwhile addition mid-season, owing to his experience and skill level, which has seen him regularly compete in the Champions League.
This is a risky move for the Premier League newcomers to commit to, but it has all the makings of being a sublime Nordi Mukiele repeat if all goes to plan, as Sunderland punches above their weight in the market, again, to land a top-drawer defender.
How Mendy could be another Mukiele
Eyebrows would have been raised all summer long when taking in Sunderland’s audacious transfer activity.
After all, the Wearside outfit had only just won promotion, but were welcoming in some star-studded additions in the blink of an eye, with Mukiele’s capture for only £9.5m sticking out as a shrewd bit of business considering he had shone previously plying this trade near the top of the Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
Unsurprisingly, Mukiele hasn’t looked out of his depth in the Premier League, with the composed defender who made 200 appearances in the top divisions of both Germany and France already up to one goal and two assists in the English top-flight, notably burying a fortuitous chance home in October.
Noted as being a “colossus” by Sky Sports’ Andy Sixsmith, the defender has won a stunning 6.4 duels won per league game – which is even more than the monstrous Granit Xhaka. On that evidence, it’s crazy to think he was signed for just £9.5m.
Well, Mendy could well be equally as eye-catching from minute one of his own Black Cats journey.
Mendy’s career numbers
Competition
Games
Goals + Assists
La Liga
129
4 + 5
Champions League
62
1 + 5
Ligue 1
57
2 + 5
Europa League
7
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
While it’s hard to look past how many injuries have plagued his Madrid career as of late, with a sorry 101 games missed through fitness problems since the 2020/21 campaign, the numbers above speak for themselves when it comes to Mendy’s pedigree, with a very impressive six goal contributions coming his way across 62 games in the Champions League.
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When he was at his best during the 2019/20 season, which saw him pick up a mammoth 12 clean sheets from just 24 La Liga outings, his former Los Blancos boss in Carlo Ancelotti, would even go as far as to laud him as “the best defensive full-back in the world”, with it undoubtedly being a coup that Sunderland are in discussions over a £10m deal, which is another Mukiele bargain in the making.
The hope will just be that he can get back to his explosive best, which once saw him terrorise opponents in Spain as a rampaging full-back, with it abundantly clear that he can hold his own against the world’s elite, when fit.
In an ideal world, he will storm into Le Bris’ first team plans as an injury-free gem, as he tries to show he can be cut above, again, to match Mukiele’s ridiculously confident transition to Premier League life.
Sunderland join January race to sign £15m+ former Man City target
The Black Cats could return to the transfer market this month.
ByTom Cunningham