Whereas a much-changed facet slipped up within the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night time, it was Sunderland’s wasteful ending that value them on the highway at Burnley on the weekend.
Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats have been deadly, quite the opposite, when swatting West Ham United apart 3-0 to kick off the brand new Premier League marketing campaign. However, at Turf Moor, 9 efforts on the Clarets’ purpose would go begging, with Eliezer Mayenda, specifically, responsible of fluffing his strains when failing to fireside dwelling a point-blank effort early into the primary half.
The defence wasn’t with out its faults in Lancashire, both, as each of Burnley’s on-target efforts on the day have been tucked away, leaving Le Bris with a complete host of late targets on his buying record to enhance the Wearside outfit all throughout the pitch.
Sunderland pushing to signal £24m titan
The Frenchman will simply pray his workforce can discover constant outcomes transferring ahead, figuring out performances such because the one dished up at Burnley may outcome right away collapse again right down to the Championship.
In a bid to introduce extra star high quality to the ranks, Sunderland at the moment are being tipped to make a last-ditch £30m transfer for RC Strasbourg attacker Dilane Bakwa, on prime of additionally being within the prospect of snapping up Chelsea reserve defender Axel Disasi so as to add extra Premier League-recognised defenders to the group.
Sunderland are additionally nonetheless within the hunt for long-term goal Jhon Lucumi from Bologna to bolster on the again, with one other twist within the story reported by journalist Eduardo Burgos, through X.
Regardless of lining up for his present employers throughout their opening contest in Serie A, the Colombian – who seems to be out there for a price across the £24m area – remains to be pushing for a transfer on the last hour, with Sunderland even opening again up negotiations with Vincenzo Italiano’s males to lastly get a deal over the road.
If the deal lastly have been to have legs, this could be a much more spectacular buy to seal than going after Disasi, particularly if Lucumi is open to relocating to English shores for lower than the Chelsea reserve centre-back’s price ticket.
Why Lucumi could be a greater signing than Disasi
Sadly, regardless of exhibiting promising early indicators at Stamford Bridge, Disasi has develop into one other forgotten man in Enzo Maresca’s overloaded camp.
The previous AS Monaco colossus would shine in spurts for Chelsea when used regularly throughout the 2023/24 season, with an unerring 91% cross accuracy averaged throughout his 31 Blues league encounters, as per Sofascore.
Nonetheless, he has additionally been liable to a lackadaisical error on the ball within the first workforce image at Chelsea, as seen on this pricey second final season that noticed now Chelsea attacker Liam Delap run away with confidence, earlier than teeing up Omari Hutchinson to reward Ipswich City a shock 2-0 lead.
The identical lax errors seeping into his sport on Wearside could be doubtlessly detrimental to Sunderland’s survival probabilities, with Lucumi much more well-versed in what it takes to be a hit at a difficult top-flight stage within the Serie A, away from Disasi, who has largely flattered to deceive at Stamford Bridge.
Lucumi vs Disasi (League – 24/25) | ||
|---|---|---|
Stat – per 90* | Lucumi | Disasi |
Video games | 33 | 13 |
Objectives | 0 | 1 |
Assists | 1 | 0 |
Touches* | 73.2 | 52.2 |
Correct passes* | 57.9 (92%) | 37.7 (90%) |
Tackles | 1.7 | 1.2 |
Complete duels received* | 3.9 | 3.1 |
Clear sheets | 10 | 2 |
Stats by Sofascore | ||
Certainly, final season noticed Lucumi solidify his place as one in all Bologna’s foremost starters, with a formidable ten clear sheets picked up as Italiano’s males completed in a cushty ninth last spot.
Le Bris shall be dreaming of comparable safe finishes down the road on the Black Cats, with Lucumi really trumping Disasi’s assured passing numbers at his Chelsea peak when additionally averaging a 92% cross accuracy final marketing campaign, resulting in analyst Ben Mattinson hailing the South American as “ice-cold” for his composure with the ball at his toes.
The towering 6-foot-2 titan also can put his lofty body to good use with 3.9 duels received on common, that means he may properly show to be a perfect substitute for Daniel Ballard, too, if the Northern Irishman is resigned to a different keep within the Stadium of Gentle therapy room after coming off injured at Burnley.
Whereas Disasi was as soon as beforehand dubbed a “monster” for his heroics at Chelsea by journalist Rahman Osman, it is clear now that his inventory has worryingly declined in West London.
Alternatively, for roughly £6m lower than the Frenchman, Sunderland may properly be capable to poach a stronger various goal in Lucumi, who remains to be very a lot caught in his Bologna prime.
