Sunderland Suffer Dayann Methalie Transfer Fear As Juventus And AC Milan Circle

Sunderland have been heavily pursuing Toulouse left-back Dayann Methalie in the recent weeks of the summer transfer window, but reports suggesting that several big clubs are waiting in the wings for the defender.

According to reporter Mirko Di Natale on X, Juventus' Chief Football Officer Frederic Massara has "recently asked for information" on Sunderland target Methalie, with the Juve chief holding the French youth international in high regard after he reportedly tried to sign previously for Roma.

The report notes that Sunderland are ahead in the race to sign Methalie, with personal terms already agreed with the 20-year-old talent, but that Juventus, as well as AC Milan and the Black Cats' arch-rivals Newcastle United, retain interest amid Lewis Hall's links to Manchester United.

As things stand in Sunderland's transfer pursuit of Methalie, the Stadium of Light and Toulouse transfer teams still have yet to reach an agreement on the fee involved with the prospective move.

Toulouse are said to be holding out for a €30m/£25.7m fee for the exciting full-back following his impressive breakout campaign in Ligue 1 last season, during which he made 32 appearances for the French top flight side and notched three goal contributions.

Whether Sunderland will meet Toulouse's asking price remains to be seen, and the Black Cats fanbase are beginning to grow anxious with the lack of traction regarding Methalie's potential move to the Stadium of Light.

Concern is ample among supporters considering that Methalie's desire is to join the Sunderland project ahead of several other offers, which makes the Black Cats hierarchy's reluctance to stump up Toulouse's asking price all the more frustrating.

The thought of missing out on French youth international Methalie would be a monumental transfer own-goal from Sunderland, considering the calibre of player he has established himself as over the last 12 months, with his technical ceiling being extremely high, and how important he would be to Regis Le Bris' squad health.

Sunderland are in desperate need of left-back reinforcements this summer, and Methalie is seen as the long-term successor to ex-Atletico Madrid stalwart Reinildo, who will turn 33 midway through his second campaign in the red-and-white stripes next season.

Not only do the Black Cats need a left full-back this summer, but French football expert Baptiste Reynaud exclusively told SunderlandRoundtable recently that Sunderland would be signing an extremely "talented" player in Methalie, whose ceiling is extremely high.

As a result, Sunderland must resist the transfer haggle with Toulouse over the fee, and ensure Methalie makes his move to Wearside in the coming days of the summer window, or the anxiety of supporters will only be exacerbated as top flight suitors, including Juventus and AC Milan, circle in the background.