Sunderland have been credited with interest in Marseille full-back Timothy Weah, but the Black Cats should be targeting other players before the summer transfer window ends.
In the recent days of the summer transfer window, Sunderland have been linked with a move for versatile Marseille talent Timothy Weah, with the Premier League curtain-raiser at Ipswich Town coming next Saturday.
French outlet La Provence recently indicated that "Sunderland are keen to sign Weah", with Marseille also not ruling out a transfer for the full-back who joined the Ligue 1 giants initially on loan last summer from Juventus, which has since been made permanent for €14/£12m.
The links come amid Marseille's publicised financial struggles, with the French top flight outfit needing to raise around €150m in player sales over the next year to comply with salary cap regulations to dodge the risk of relegation to Ligue 2 as punishment.
Therefore, several Marseille stars have been linked with departures this summer - with former Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg recently rejecting a move to Sunderland's arch-rivals Newcastle United - and Weah is the latest to be touted for an exit.
With Weah, there are several impressive aspects to his game, but given the current shape of Regis Le Bris' squad, the Sunderland hierarchy should be targeting other profiles of players this summer.
Timothy Weah in action for the USA at the World Cup (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)Why Sunderland Should Dodge Interest In Marseille Star Timothy Weah
Regarding the USMNT star who featured at the World Cup for the co-hosts, Weah is an extremely versatile player, capable of operating both as a more traditional right-back and further forward in an advanced right wing-back role, having notched seven goal contributions in 41 outings for Marseille in all competitions last season.
Weah played the majority of his football for Marseille as a right full-back last term, due to the presence of Mason Greenwood at right-wing and his failure over recent seasons to impress when played in an attacking role.
Therein lies the main issue as to why Sunderland should be prioritising other targets over the former Paris Saint-Germain youth product.
Le Bris is extremely well-stocked in the right-back department heading into the season for Sunderland, with three quality options at his disposal ahead of an inevitably testing campaign.
Last season, tough-tackling Northern Ireland international Trai Hume proved his Premier League credentials with a commendable campaign which saw him ended the season as a makeshift right-winger, to great effect with his volleyed goal against Chelsea on final day.
As well as Hume, last summer's £10m arrival Nordi Mukiele proved to be one of the best new defensive additions to the Premier League with his mammoth displays, with some excellent performances at both right-back and centre-half.
Adding summer free agent signing Thomas Meunier, who is well aware of the quality in Sunderland's side in his position, leaving Le Bris with three stellar options for the right flank of defence for the Premier League campaign and Europa League venture.
Which begs the question, do Sunderland have any need for Weah in their right-back ranks?
