Whilst a lot of the Sunderland conversation this summer has centred on the number of new signings arriving through the door, the crop of talent already at Regis Le Bris’ disposal before this whirlwind business kicked off will feel they have what it takes to compete in the Premier League as well.
The likes of Chris Rigg – who is nearing an extended Black Cats deal – will be raring to go up a league having already proven himself in the Championship as a bold 18-year-old asset, whilst French marksman Wilson Isidor will be aiming to add to his 13 second-tier strikes in the challenging division.
Of course, he will have plenty of competition in the attacking positions to contend with, as plenty more fresh recruits are expected to join the Stadium of Light ranks up top before the chaotic transfer window slams shut.
Sunderland showing strong interest in £22m attacker
Sunderland have never looked back this summer after both Jobe Bellingham and Tommy Watson deserted Wearside in quick succession, with more cash expected to be splurged soon to boost the newly promoted side even more.
Leicester City attacker Bilal El Khannouss is now reportedly on the Black Cats’ radar, with French outlet L’Equipe even going as far as to suggest that Le Bris’ men are out in front for the Moroccan’s coveted signature, ahead of the likes of West Ham United and AS Monaco.
Alongside shopping close to home, Sunderland also has their eye on some promising attacking talents in Ligue 1, with a report from journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that the Premier League new boys are showing a “strong interest” in OGC Nice forward Evan Guessand.
Both Leeds United and Brentford are also keen on the £22m-rated attacker’s services, with the report further revealing that Guessand would be tempted by a switch to England as he weighs up leaving his current employers.
Off the back of a promising season in France, Guessand might well explode into life even more under Le Bris’ tutelage on Wearside, as the Nice number 29 attempts to replicate Isidor’s rapid rise at the Stadium of Light, considering Isidor was also once viewed as being a slightly risky star to sign last summer.
How Guessand could be the next Isidor
In the end, Isidor would instantly settle in right at the top of the Championship, which was a surprise considering the Rennes-born forward never tasted the high intensity of the English game before linking up with Le Bris and Co last August, initially on loan.
Still, that wouldn’t matter as Isidor led the line with confidence for promotion chasers all season long, culminating in him collecting 13 Championship strikes. Before this breakout moment, however, the towering 24-year-old only had a mediocre 48 career strikes next to his name as a nomadic presence playing out in Russia and France.
24/25
42
13
9
23/24
38
7
2
21/22
25
1
3
20/21
3
0
0
19/20
1
0
0
Guessand had an equally formative experience with Nice this season just gone, with the powers that be at the Cote D’Azur club having to exercise plenty of patience before fully reaping their rewards, as seen in the 6-foot-3 striker registering a blistering 13 strikes in all competitions last campaign, after only eight goals had been tallied up over the prior three seasons.
Even more could soon come from Guessand, therefore, knowing what Le Bris has managed to do for a striker with a similar approach to himself in Isidor, with Isidor also a lofty presence coming in at 6-foot-1, but equally content with speeding through on goal to finish off a well-crafted counter-attack.
The £22m attacker has even been hailed as “electric” by U23 football scout Antonio Mango for his devastating burst of pace, which might well work in his favour in such a demanding and taxing league like the Premier League.
Le Bris will see Guessand as a project – much like he did with Isidor – and if the success story of the former Zenit St. Petersburg man is anything to go off, landing the Ivorian might well be deemed a capture as impactful as Habib Diarra and Enzo Le Fee joining for some mega bucks down the line.
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