Sunderland are reportedly lining up a move for Toulouse defender Dayann Methalie in the coming days of the summer transfer window, who would be an impressive and necessary signing.
As the transfer window ramps up, the rumours of new arrivals to Sunderland are also continuing, with the latest exciting link being with Toulouse full-back Dayann Methalie.
Earlier this week, reports emerged that Sunderland were lining up a move to sign Methalie from the Ligue 1 outfit, following his impressive season in the French top flight in his first full senior season.
Sunderland signed free agent Thomas Meunier this week following his exit from Lille, to add experience and European pedigree to their ranks ahead of next season, with the link to Methalie concerning a player at the converse side of his career to the veteran Belgian defender.
At just 20-years-old, Methalie has his career ahead of him, and the highly-rated talent could become part of Regis Le Bris' squad this summer if the Sunderland move does materialise for the £15m-rated starlet.
From a Sunderland perspective, the move for Methalie would be yet another exciting and sensible transfer play by the Stadium of Light hierarchy, for a multitude of reasons.
Issues Sunderland Signing of Dayann Methalie Would Solve
First of all, from a pure squad standpoint, Sunderland now have Reinildo as their only senior trademark left-back following the emotional exit of promotion-winner Dennis Cirkin this summer, who performed admirably as the ex-Atletico Madrid stalwart's deputy when needed last season.
With Cirkin having ended his five-season stay at Sunderland, the Black Cats must replace his absence this summer, and Methalie would be the answer to this problem area for Le Bris, but would certainly offer far more than just a necessary body.
In terms of his tactical fit, Methalie would enable Le Bris to become far more flexible in his formational approach throughout next season in the Premier League and Europa League campaigns, with the French youth international comfortable as a traditional full-back or as an attack-minded wing-back.
In addition, his arrival would enable Trai Hume to continue on his favoured right-side of defence, rather than having to cover at left full-back, where he is comfortable to deputise but could be exposed in high-level competition.
Given that an injury to Reinildo, who will turn 33 halfway through next season, would leave Sunderland without a trademark left-back, it forces great impetus on the Black Cats' recruitment team to add a left full-back to Le Bris' ranks this summer.
Therefore, given how much of an exciting talent that Methalie is with his prime years ahead of him at just 20-years-old, and his prospective importance to Sunderland in terms of the aforementioned squad health standpoint, the onus is now on the Black Cats to secure his signature this summer.
In short, Sunderland need to sign a left-back this summer, and they would be remiss to miss out on Methalie.
