Sunderland’s pursuit of Alexandre Mendy is still up in the air as owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus may need to increase their offer to secure the forward. The proposed move for Mendy has been dragging on and it looks like it will extend beyond the start of the season. The club expressed interest in Mendy from SM Caen a few weeks ago, and Mendy himself stated that he had chosen to join Sunderland over a move to Saudi Arabia, pending an agreed fee. However, reports indicate that Sunderland’s initial bid was below £1 million, falling well short of Caen’s valuation of at least £3 million.
Further complicating Mendy’s transfer is the involvement of Kylian Mbappe, who recently purchased Caen and reportedly wants to speak with Mendy to convince him to stay. Despite this, Mendy reiterated his intention to leave and emphasized that his decision was made months ago. It seems that Mendy is keen on joining Sunderland, but without an agreed fee, the move remains uncertain.
Louis-Dreyfus is hesitant to break the club’s transfer record, mindful of past mistakes such as overspending on players like Will Grigg, who eventually left the club after failing to meet expectations. The departure of Ross Stewart, a prolific goalscorer, has also left a void in the team that needs to be filled to boost their chances of reaching the play-offs in the upcoming season.
The highest fee spent on a player under Louis-Dreyfus’ ownership is £2.5 million for Ukrainian forward Nazariy Rusyn. However, it seems that he may have to surpass this amount to secure Mendy’s services. The owner is wary of repeating past errors and is determined to make the right investment for the club’s success.
As Sunderland fans eagerly await the season kick-off, the uncertainty surrounding Mendy’s transfer adds an extra layer of anticipation. The club’s ambitions for the season hinge on strengthening their squad with the right players, and Mendy could be the missing piece in their attacking lineup. Only time will tell if a deal can be reached and if Mendy will finally don the Sunderland jersey in the upcoming matches.
