Sunderland Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi has said that the Black Cats did not sign last season's RB Leipzig loanee Lutsharel Geertruida due to the option of signing Thomas Meunier.
Rather than spending £20m on the Dutchman, Sunderland signed Meunier as a free agent following his exit from Lille, and the experienced defender has proven to be a stellar addition to the Black Cats squad.
Ghisolfi said: "We had conversations with Lutsha but also we were looking at the market because when you make this type of choice, you have also to see the cost and the impact the player can have with the team.
"We were close, but it was also a big cost. Then Thomas was someone who ticks some boxes for us with his leadership and he also knows the rhythm of European competition.
"He's tall, and was available on a free, so doing this then means more capacity to do something else.
"We thought a lot about this decision but at the end, we think it was the right choice to do."
Sunderland fans, do you think it was the right choice?
