adminSunderland Show Ambition with Talbi Deal: What It Means for Roberts and the Attack
Sunderland’s summer spending spree shows no signs of slowing down, with the club now agreeing a deal worth up to £19.5 million for 19-year-old winger Chemsdine Talbi. The Moroccan-Belgian talent arrives from Club Brugge in what would be a landmark signing for sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and new head coach Régis Le Bris.
The move is a clear statement of intent and could shift the dynamics of Sunderland’s forward line, particularly with Patrick Roberts already at the club. Here’s a closer look at Talbi’s profile, his potential role in the team, and how he compares to Roberts.
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Talbi by the Numbers
Talbi’s stats from last season highlight why Sunderland are so keen. He logged 2,357 minutes of senior football, contributing seven goals and five assists in all competitions. His expected goals (xG) stood at 8.26, with 54 total shots—44% of which were on target.
According to DataMB, he ranks impressively high across several attacking metrics when compared to wingers outside Europe’s top seven leagues:
95th percentile for key passes
93rd percentile for overall attacking actions
92nd percentile for progressive carries
89th percentile for non-penalty goals
84th percentile for successful dribbles
He also attempted 101 crosses—about four per game—while maintaining an 80% pass-completion rate. On average, he registered over three progressive runs and 12 touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes. These figures mark him as an elite creative and attacking threat within his age group.
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Talbi vs Roberts: Style and Output
The contrast between Talbi and Patrick Roberts is stark. Talbi tends to stay high and wide on the right flank, often isolating defenders before cutting inside to shoot or deliver a final pass. He can also feature on the left, cutting in on his stronger right foot—an added layer of tactical flexibility.
Roberts, now 28, plays a different role. Rather than hugging the touchline, he drops deeper, beats pressure with tight dribbling, and knits together attacking moves. He averaged 6.5 dribbles per 90—much higher than Talbi—and completed 5.5 progressive passes per game to Talbi’s 3.5. However, Roberts is less direct around goal, scoring just two league goals last season while delivering eight assists.
In short: Talbi offers more end product, while Roberts is more influential during build-up play.
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Level of Competition: A Key Difference
It’s also worth noting the difference in competitive context. Roberts produced his numbers in the physically demanding Championship—England’s second tier. Talbi, meanwhile, was playing top-flight football in Belgium and featured in European competitions.
In fact, Talbi played 11 Champions League games, scoring twice and assisting once on Europe’s biggest stage. That kind of exposure and high-pressure experience could give him an edge in adapting to English football, especially if Sunderland push for Premier League promotion.
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Room for Both in Le Bris’ System
New head coach Régis Le Bris will welcome the tactical options both players offer. In a 4-3-3 setup, Talbi can stretch the pitch from the right wing and attack the box, while Roberts can drop deeper into the right half-space, helping progress play and retain control.
Roberts’ strengths lie in ball progression and technical play, while Talbi brings direct running, goal threat, and final-third explosiveness. The two could complement each other well, depending on the tactical needs of a given match.
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Conclusion
Talbi’s arrival signals a bold new chapter for Sunderland. While he offers a very different profile to Roberts, both players could play crucial roles under Le Bris. If used wisely, this could be the start of a new, more dynamic Sunderland att
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