Sunderland Hit By Matias Soule Transfer Fear as Premier League Rivals Join Race

As the summer window continues, Sunderland have shown serious transfer interest in AS Roma attacker Matias Soule, but now their Premier League rivals Fulham have reportedly entered the race for the Argentinian international.

In recent days, reports emerged that Sunderland were interested in Roma winger Soule, as the Black Cats search for attacking reinforcements in the right-wing role following Bertrand Traore's end-of-season exit and Regis Le Bris' struggles to fill this position effectively last season.

After joining Roma from Juventus two years ago, 23-year-old Soule has been in fine form for the Serie A outfit, notching 12 goals and 12 assists in 81 appearances for The Giallorossi.

As a result, Sunderland have eyed a £30m move for exciting young talent Soule, who would slot perfectly into the Black Cats' starting XI, but according to the latest reports, will have to contend with top flight foes Fulham for his signature.

According to Italian outlet Corriere Dello Sport, former Juventus starlet Soule's agent, Martin Guastadisegno, is currently in England to negotiate the versatile attacker's salary with both Sunderland and Fulham.

From a financial perspective, the publication adds that a sale for Rome around the €35m/£30m would see the Italian giants record a significant return on investment of the near €20m/£17m they shelled out to Juventus two summers ago.

In terms of the two English top flight sides interested in Soule's signature, Fulham's reported interest in the Argentinian is plausible considering that the London outfit have just lose their standout player from last season in Harry Wilson, to fellow Premier League side Leeds United on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract.

With Soule and Wilson, who notched 17 goal contributions in 36 Premier League games last season, sharing a similar profile in terms of being a left-footed right-winger with proven consistent goal threat, the Cottagers potentially view the Roma talent as the Welshman's long-term successor.

Regarding Sunderland, their interest in Soule is clear, given that the right-wing role had been a persistent problem position for Le Bris over the course of last season, with several members of his squad trying and failing to nail down the position as their own.

With the Sunderland boss spoiled for choice at left-wing, with Chemsdine Talbi and Nilson Angulo both enjoying impressive World Cup campaigns for Morocco and Ecuador respectively, the standout area in attack that the Black Cats need to strengthen is unequovically at right-wing.

Enter, hopefully, Soule. One unseen advantage that Sunderland possesses in transfer negotiations for the 23-year-old is that Black Cats Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi was the man who brought Soule to Roma in the summer of 2024, when the Frenchman was the transfer chief at the Stadio Olimpico.

Considering the calibre of talent Soule is, and how perfectly he would suit Sunderland's current squad needs, the Black Cats faithful are collectively hoping that the ambitious, potential club-record move materialises and sees the Roma man join the Stadium of Light project this summer.