Sunderland Finally Set To Sign Full-back Dayann Methalie As £25.7m Deal Agreed

Sunderland are reportedly edging closer to securing the signature of Toulouse full-back Dayann Methalie after several weeks of negotiations. 

According to French outlet Le Parisien, Sunderland and Toulouse have ‘never been closer’ to finalising terms for the highly-rated left-back, with an agreement on the verge of being reached between the two clubs.

Additionally, reporter Fabrice Hawkins - who first broke the news of Sunderland’s interest in Methalie earlier this month - added afterwards that Sunderland have reached a full agreement with Toulouse to sign the 20-year-old talent. 

Hawkins added on X that a medical for Methalie is set to take place shortly, with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano giving his trademark 'here we go' and indicating that the fee for the full-back will be at the €28m/£24m mark, with €2m/£1.7m in add-ons.

Sunderland’s interest in Methalie emerged multiple weeks ago, with the Black Cats hierarchy keen to secure the French youth international’s signature following his impressive breakthrough campaign in Ligue last term. 

The transfer revelation came as the Black Cats took on Toulouse’s fellow French top flight side Rennes at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon, with Regis Le Bris’ side 1-0 down to the visitors as the news broke on social media.

Following the game and the reports, it appears that Sunderland are finally poised to secure Methalie’s services this summer and add their second signing of the summer after Thomas Meunier’s arrival as a free agent earlier in the window. 

Coincidentally, Sunderland left-back Reinildo Mandava was in impressive form for the Black Cats against Rennes, with the Mozambique international Regis Le Bris’ only option in this role ahead of Methalie’s seemingly imminent arrival. 

Following the summer exit for Dennis Cirkin, who has since joined Championship promotion-hopefuls Queens Park Rangers, and Arthur Masuaku’s switch to Turkish side Konyaspor, adding a quality left-back to Le Bris’ ranks was one of the Stadium of Light transfer team’s top priorities in the window. 

The French starlet had been the Black Cats’ number one target, but Sunderland had been struggling to agree on financial terms with Toulouse for several days, which spawned anxiety from the Black Cats fanbase as to whether the prospective move would fall through. 

Recent reports indicated that Sunderland had been looking at alternative targets at left-back, with the Black Cats credited with interest in Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig amid the ongoing Methalie transfer saga. 

Thankfully, Sunderland have seemingly gotten the deal over the line for one of the most highly-rated young defenders in European football, with Methalie set to join the Stadium of Light project with the upcoming Premier League season fast approaching.