adminSunderland Smash Transfer Record with £30m Move for
Sunderland are poised to break their transfer record after striking a deal to sign RC Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra for a fee believed to be around £30 million, including performance-based add-ons.
The 20-year-old Senegal international is expected to undergo a medical in the coming days, marking a bold statement of intent from the newly promoted Premier League side.
The move follows the club-record sale of Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund, and signals Sunderland’s ambition to compete at the highest level next season.
Diarra, a highly rated talent across Europe, had attracted interest from several top-flight clubs, including Leeds United, but Sunderland have moved swiftly to secure his signature. With nearly 100 senior appearances for Strasbourg, Diarra has established himself as one of the most promising midfielders in Ligue 1.
His departure had been anticipated, with Strasbourg president Marc Keller previously confirming that the club had made a commitment to allow Diarra to leave if a significant offer came in this summer.
> “There’s one player who’s due to leave based on a promise I made to him two years ago: our captain, Habib Diarra,” Keller told RMC’s After Foot.
“When he extended his contract, we told him he was extending it, but that he wouldn’t leave until June 2025. So if we get an interesting offer for him and for us, he could leave.”
In addition to the Diarra deal, Sunderland are actively pursuing other key targets. Talks are ongoing with OGC Nice over the signing of goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, with optimism growing that a deal worth around £18 million can be agreed.
The Black Cats are also set to confirm the arrival of Florent Ghisolfi as the club’s new Director of Football, following his recent exit from AS Roma.
The appointment is expected to further enhance Sunderland’s recruitment strategy under the leadership of chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
In a further show of ambition, Sunderland are reportedly eyeing an audacious move for Mattéo Guendouzi, according to RMC. The former Arsenal midfielder, who currently plays for Lazio, previously worked under Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris during their time together at FC Lorient.
Guendouzi impressed in Serie A last season, and Sunderland may look to take advantage of financial instability at Lazio to lure the 26-year-old to the Stadium of Light. However, it remains uncertain whether the French international would be open to a move to Wearside.
With players due back for pre-season training next Friday, Sunderland’s transfer business is ramping up — and the club looks determined to make a splash ahead of their Premier League return
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