Régis Le Bris Issues Chesmdine Talbi Transfer Verdict After Reveal Before Hull City Winner

Sunderland boss Régis Le Bris believes it is "really positive" that Chemsdine Talbi is staying at the Black Cats this year following his links to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.

Last week, following his surprising omission from Sunderland's Europa League first-phase squad, reports emerged that Talbi was in talks with Al-Ittihad over a Sunderland exit just one year after joining the Stadium of Light project from Club Brugge and netting four goals in his debut campaign.

With the Moroccan's future on Wearside in doubt after days of transfer talks, ahead of Sunderland's Carabao Cup clash against Hull City on Tuesday evening, Sunderland Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi confirmed that Talbi will be staying at Sunderland despite the Saudi interest.

Poignantly, Le Bris awarded Talbi his first start of the season against Hull, and the young winger repaid his club's faith with the winning goal, seeing him delightfully dink Tigers goalkeeper Dillon Phillips after bursting through the opposition backline to send Sunderland through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

After the game, Le Bris explained his relief at the decision for Talbi to remain a member of his Black Cats squad for the season ahead.

Following Sunderland's 1-0 win over Hull in the Carabao Cup, Le Bris offered his thoughts on the Talbi transfer decision, and it is clear to see why he was pleased given his match-winning performance in a new second striker role.

As quoted by the Sunderland Echo, Le Bris said: "It's really positive. We know in the window we can talk and have conversations about the future, but now it's done and it's clear.

"I was also interested by this new position. I feel he can play off the left and right and he's shown in the past he can be a good winger, but also just under the striker where he has this space and this ability to exploit big spaces.

"Even after 50/60 metres he stayed composed to finish. He had his first chance at the end of the first half and then he scores.

"It depends on the players we have moving forward, Habib (Diarra) and (Enzo Le Fee) and Riggy (Chris Rigg) are able to play in this position.

With Talbi being omitted from Sunderland's Europa League squad amidst his pursuit of a switch to the Saudi Pro League, the Moroccan international will be unavailable for Le Bris in next week's Europa League curtain-raiser in the visit of AZ Alkmaar to the Stadium of Light.

However, with Romaine Mundle injured until the festive period following knee surgery in yet another setback for the winger, Talbi will inevitably get more opportunities going forwards to impress, hopefully in similar fashion to his stunning Hull display.

Le Bris added: "I'm pleased (Talbi is staying). I repeat, in the transfer window, anything can happen. Chems had a good season last year, but you can take a few steps and think about your future; it's possible. Now we have clarity from his side and our side."

Following the £30.8m signing of Malick Fofana from Lyon, and Nilson Angulo's outstanding performance in the 1-1 draw at Brentford, Le Bris is well-stocked with left-wingers given that Talbi is staying at Sunderland for the time being.

The right-wing position is still up for grabs, but now Talbi appears to have staked his claim for a more central role, given how effective he was as a second striker against Hull in the space behind Wilson Isidor, with his give-and-go style seeming far more effective than his wing play in the number ten space.

Perhaps, Le Bris has unlocked a new position and role for the trademark winger, and this could offer him the perfect platform to kickstart his second season at Sunderland and showcase why the Saudi links have firmly concluded.