It’s been two long weeks now since Brian Brobbey silenced St. James’ Park in the Tyne-Wear Derby, as Sunderland prepare to launch back into Premier League action after the international break.
In an ideal reality, Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats would have loved to follow up that 2-1 win over Newcastle United, with another contest straight after, to up the confidence levels.
Instead, the Wearside giants will have to wait another week to face off against a relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur side, as they attempt to consolidate their spot in the mid-table positions, in the testing division.
Already, next season will be on the horizon, with Sunderland 14 points ahead of the relegation zone, as some summer signings look to be in the pipeline.
Sunderland eye move for Spanish star
It could well be another summer of lavish spending ahead for the Premier League side, with Sunderland’s top five most expensive signings of all time, all joining just last year.
The midfield ranks were certainly boosted, with a club-record £27m dropped on the services of Habib Diarra, while £15m was splashed out on Noah Sadiki.
Purchased from France and Belgium, respectively, Sunderland could soon tap into the Spanish market to land Almeria ace Sergio Arribas, according to new reports.
Indeed, reports from Europe, via Sport Witness, suggest that the Black Cats might well be interested in snapping up the former Real Madrid youth product, as he is also on AS Roma’s summer shopping list.
Florent Ghisolfi – who is Sunderland’s current director of football – was a big fan of the 5-foot-7 playmaker when he was employed by Roma, so much so that he identified Arribas as a target for the Serie A side.
Therefore, it’s not of the question that the Black Cats will join this transfer tussle, if Ghisolfi reignites this previous interest at the Stadium of Light, with Le Bris potentially landing another Enzo Le Fee-style midfielder.
How Arribas could be another Le Fee
Alongside putting their money where their mouth is to land Diarra and Sadiki, the Premier League newboys dropped £19.3m on Le Fee’s services last summer, after he proved to be an instant hit on Wearside in the Championship.
Le Fee is now up to six goals and seven assists from 51 appearances at the Stadium of Light, as he continues to be key to how Sunderland tick in attack, whether he’s playing as a left winger, or as a number ten.
Sunderland signing a player of the Frenchman’s stunning quality would have been viewed as a pipedream when they were stuck in the EFL.
Now, however, this could become a regular occurrence, as they attempt to land another midfielder – who would have been viewed as previously unattainable – in Arribas, as Sunderland potentially prepare to do battle with Roma, for an ex-Real Madrid talent.
It’s clear that Arribas is another diamond in the rough, waiting to be unleashed into the Premier League by Le Bris, much like Le Fee was, based off his stunning La Liga 2 numbers this season for Almeria, with a sublime 20 goals and seven assists next to his name from 34 games in all competitions.
With 119 goal contributions tallied up in total playing for Almeria and all the way through the youth ranks to the main team at the Santiago Bernabeu, it’s no wonder his current manager, Rubi, has hailed him as a “fantastic” talent.
|
Arribas’ career numbers by position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Games |
Goals + Assists |
|
AM |
101 |
41 + 19 |
|
RW |
58 |
18 + 6 |
|
LW |
16 |
7 + 4 |
|
CM |
10 |
4 + 4 |
|
CF |
2 |
2 + 1 |
|
RM |
2 |
0 + 1 |
|
SS |
1 |
2 + 0 |
|
LM |
1 |
0 |
Capable of playing across a wide array of positions, too, to further solidify his similarities to Le Fee, this could well prove to be a masterstroke of a deal if Ghisolfi’s previous interest in the 24-year-old, is explored once more.
But, Sunderland will want to improve here and there next season to ensure they maintain a grip on a comfortable Premier League position, with Arribas just that little extra sprinkle of quality, that could be necessary, to enhance Le Bris’ already strong choices.
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