Solely two extra sleeps are left for Sunderland supporters till the drama of the Premier League begins.
It has been an extended however thrilling summer season to be a follower of the Black Cats, with a mega £132m now spent on 11 model new signings following the newest seize of Omar Alderete from Getafe, with the purpose to present the Wearside outfit one of the best preventing probability at fast survival.
Preparations are effectively underway for his or her opening conflict in opposition to West Ham United on the Stadium of Gentle, with the dream final result, in fact, being a confidence-boosting victory in entrance of their adoring house plenty.
It won’t play out like that, nevertheless, with the Black Cats not finished completely with their all rampant enterprise both, as extra tweaks are probably made to attempt to get one of the best out of a new-look aspect within the long-term.
Newest on Sunderland’s switch search
Le Bris must utilise his full squad throughout the 38-game marathon of a season to return.
That would end in much more purchases being signed off on, following the £10m addition of Alderete. Dominic Calvert-Lewin had reportedly been on the Sunderland radar as one other physique up high, earlier than Leeds United then gained his companies.
Sunderland may be luckier with their advances in defence, with former Newcastle United centre-back Lloyd Kelly now on the Black Cats’ buying listing at across the £17m value vary.
There may be additionally a rising star defensively catching the newly promoted aspect’s eye within the type of 19-year-old Fiorentina sensation Eddy Koudiao.
Experiences from Italian outlet La Nazione – by way of La Viola – are suggesting that the teenage centre-back is being monitored by Le Bris and Co. after impressing in pre-season for the Serie A aspect, with contests in opposition to Nottingham Forest and Manchester United seeing Kouadio stand out on the again.
The Frenchman would possibly effectively consider he can work his magic on one more teen if the Italy U19 worldwide have been to relocate to Wearside shortly, with Kouadio – who was linked with a transfer earlier this yr – changing into his subsequent Chris Rigg-style venture subsequently.
How Kouadio can turn into Le Bris’ subsequent Rigg
Very like Kouadio has generated loads of hype in Florence for a while now, Rigg has been shouted about often amongst these with Stadium of Gentle connections as a teen able to burst into life on the very high.
Le Bris would get the utmost out of the versatile 18-year-old final season as promotion was triumphantly secured, with the ex-Lorient supervisor – who has been dubbed a “specialist” in working with the following technology based on Sky Sports activities’ Don Goodman – handing Rigg a weighty 47 senior alternatives.
The thrilling quantity 11 would repay his supervisor’s unwavering religion by smashing house 4 targets and gathering one help, with soccer commentator Ian Darke even declaring that he’s “clearly going to play within the Premier League” mid-way by these promising exploits.
Darke has been confirmed proper along with his feedback, with Rigg fortunately staying put this summer season regardless of earlier Manchester United hypothesis. Kouadio might be hopeful that he can obtain comparable glowing reward if he is thrust into the senior highlight at Sunderland, having shot up the age brackets at Fiorentina with ease, very similar to his 18-year-old counterpart at his boyhood employers.
Kouadio’s Fiorentina youth document | ||
|---|---|---|
Place | Video games | Objectives + Assists |
CB | 71 | 2 + 2 |
RB | 11 | 0 + 1 |
by way of Transfermarkt | ||
Certainly, the Fiorentina U19 common has now collected a mammoth 82 appearances for the Serie A giants at youth degree, along with his capacity to play within the right-back slot, away from simply being snug centrally, making him much more just like Rigg, who can line up throughout numerous midfield positions if wanted.
Additional, Le Bris will really feel considerably extra assured about chucking his new recruit into senior motion when assessing how he handled these pre-season assessments in opposition to the Purple Devils and the Tough Bushes.
From 72 minutes of motion mixed throughout the 2 friendlies, the 19-year-old would throw himself about into duels with out concern, culminating in 50% of his duels being gained from 4 makes an attempt, as per Sofascore.
He would solely misplace two of his passes in opposition to Forest, too, with there clearly being a number of promise in the best way Kouadio conducts himself.
It’s going to all relaxation on whether or not the Italian defender can blossom into Sunderland’s subsequent much-talked-about starlet, away from mere hype, with the hope that he can turn into the membership’s subsequent Rigg down the road, as Le Bris’ experience on this space works wonders once more.
