MusaSunderland and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman have been linked with a number of foreign signings in recent days.
Sunderland transfer rumours after Enzo Le Fee deal
The Black Cats have yet to make any major signings since being promoted to the Premier League in the transfer window, with loanee Enzo Le Fee set to be the only permanent signing.
Le Fee has signed a four-year deal for around £20m after helping the club to promotion at Wembley. In terms of relegation, Sunderland have lost play-off hero Tommy Watson and star midfielder Jobe Bellingham to Brighton and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
There have been reports of goals galore at The Stadium of Light as Regis Le Bris prepares his side for their Premier League opener at home to West Ham United on 16 August.
Leeds United midfielder Sam Greenwood is a player of interest for Sunderland, as is Sassuolo striker Armand Lauriente.
Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers also has a Black Cats fan following and it appears that Speakman has been making inroads with targets outside England in recent days.
Speakman confirms transfer talks with Sunderland targets
As reported by The Northern Echo, Speakman confirmed that he has been in three different countries in person this week to speak to targets and their agents.
“Our aim has never been just to get into the Premier League. It’s a milestone and of course everyone talks about it, but internally over the last two, three, four years it’s always been about re-establishing ourselves.
“So what we need to do now is get on to the next part of that journey and look at establishing ourselves (at Premier League level) in the next three or four years and hopefully get to a point where he can be involved at the top of the league, which is ultimately where we all want to be.
“We’re trying to recruit players for that. I’ve spent the last three days in three different countries talking to players and agents. I landed back [in England] at about 2am last night so the work behind the scenes is ongoing and has been going on for a few weeks.”
Although he won’t say which players he has spoken to, The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson has identified Ukraine striker Vladyslav Vanat, Monaco defender Wilfried Singa and Lauriente as targets for Sunderland.
Vanat is currently at the Under-21 European Championship after scoring 21 goals and registering nine assists for Dynamo Kiev in all competitions last season.
The 23-year-old could be one of those Speakman has spoken to, but by all accounts, transfer business could soon begin on Wearside following the news from the Sunderland boss.
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