Sunderland plotting bargain swoop to sign “great” Premier League midfielder

After agreeing a club-record deal to sign Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, Sunderland have now reportedly shifted their focus towards an experienced Premier League star.

Sunderland set to sign Diarra

After Jobe Bellingham completed a move to Borussia Dortmund, there may have been some concerns that Sunderland were about to endure a difficult summer ahead of their Premier League return. So far, so good, however. The Black Cats have spent the Bellingham money well, reportedly agreeing a deal to sign Diarra ahead of Leeds United and also set to welcome Atletico Madrid left-back Reinildo.

There’s still plenty of work to be done if they are to survive at the first time of asking, but Sunderland can certainly accept the duo as an excellent start to a crucial transfer window.

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The Black Cats mean business.

Diarra played a crucial part as Strasbourg’s captain last season, helping Liam Rosenior’s to a seventh-place finish following two seasons in the bottom half of Ligue 1. Now, at 21 years old, he could take the Premier League by storm.

Going forward, Diarra is likely to offer Regis Le Bris’ side a greater threat. It’s going the other way that the Black Cats may still need a fresh face. As impressive as the Senegal international’s output was last time out, his numbers suggest that he is unlikely to match Bellingham’s ability to recover possession. Instead, that’s where an experienced option could come in.

Sunderland plotting Doucoure swoop

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Sunderland are now plotting a move to sign Abdoulaye Doucoure, who is set to become a free agent after confirming his departure from Everton at the end of the season. The experienced Frenchman, having still played an important role for the Toffees in the last campaign, would be an excellent coup for the Black Cats.

At 32 years old, Doucoure still has plenty to offer and was praised by manager David Moyes on his way out of Merseyside. The Everton boss told reporters: “I think he’s been a great servant to the club, he’s done a great job over many years here. We made him an offer and he’s got a better one to go elsewhere. So, from that point of view, we have to live with that.”

Unlike Diarra, Doucoure would be able to make up for the loss of Bellingham’s defensive work to create a balanced, fresh midfield partnership at the Stadium of Light. In two moves, Le Bris could have a midfield capable of survival and more at his disposal.