Sunderland have now submitted a bid for a proven Premier League player who is capable of scoring “worldies”, according to a new transfer update.
Le Bris outlines Sunderland’s pre-season training plan
The Black Cats are getting closer to their Premier League return all the time, with Regis Le Bris working on having his squad as prepared as possible during pre-season.
Sunderland’s manager has been discussing what he wants to see from his players during their trip to Portugal, with focus on the “dynamic” within the team.
“We are working on individuals making connections in the team dynamic. I think at this stage every team will have their own dynamic. Probably we will go for 45 minutes with one squad and 45 minutes again with another. We know the connections are not always the best we could create so from the perspective of the result I don’t think it’s the best output but what we will expect is the way the players work, the way they will try to achieve the same objectives on the pitch. That will be our main focus.”
Le Bris will know that further signings are needed before the end of the summer transfer window, though, with talks reportedly underway over a move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka, and now a fresh update has emerged.
Sunderland submit formal offer for Xhaka
According to Bild [via Sport Witness], Sunderland have now “made advances” to sign Xhaka, submitting a bid for the former Arsenal man. While the Swiss is valued at £17m, the offer in question is believed to be “less” than that, as the Black Cats look to get a cut-price deal over the line.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has discussed the 32-year-old’s future: “Granit is a very important player for us, for the team and for the club.
“Our main interest is to keep him. Sure, there is interest in him, we need to speak to the player to know what his ambitions are. But one thing is clear: There would only be a transfer in a win-win situation.We still have a three-year contract with the player and are very happy with him.
“We have big goals for the next few years. That’s why there can only be a transfer if it’s good for all sides. We’ll have to wait and see. But our goal is for Granit to stay with us.“
Xhaka stands out as such a shrewd option for Sunderland this summer, so it is exciting to see progress being made in their pursuit of him.
The Leverkusen stalwart is now a 137-cap Switzerland international, showing how vastly experienced he is, and he has been hailed as a “lovely technician” by Joe Cole, also lauding the ex-Gunners star for his ability to score “worldies” from distance.
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Xhaka knows the Premier League inside out, making 225 appearances in the competition during his Arsenal days, so he could be an invaluable addition to Sunderland’s midfield, combining tactical discipline with an eye for the spectacular.
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