LATEST ROUNDUP
- BY DANIEL McCALLUM
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read

Yesterday was a bit mad at Sunderland. The only thing officially confirmed by the club was the appointment of a new Director of Football, but various news outlets have suggested that a number of deals have actually now been fully completed. It was very difficult to keep track of all the rumours, but we’ve given it our best shot…
FLORENT GHISOLFI
First, the worst kept secret in this transfer window has to be Florent Ghisolfi’s arrival at Sunderland. The club have at last announced his appointment. Officially, he actually starts work today (July 3rd) but given Sunderland’s busy start to the window and the transfer links to his former associates, it seems that SAFC have already been taking advantage of his contacts list. It’s important to note that the 40-year-old is not replacing Kristjaan Speakman - instead, the pair are expected to work alongside each other in similar yet different job titles. Speakman is Sporting Director as opposed to Director of Football (word soup, I know). It appears that Ghisolfi will take on some of the recruitment burden while Speakman will be able to focus on the other aspects of his job…
NOAH SADIKI
Fabrizio Romano continued his Sunderland summer love-in by revealing out of nowhere that the next Sunderland player through the door is going to be Noah Sadiki of Belgian side Union Saint Gilloise. It is said that Sadiki, aged 20, can play centre midfield, fullback or centre back. With the Lads set to face a gruelling Premier League survival campaign, it could prove useful to have such a youthful utility man in and around the squad. Fabrizio reckons we’re paying €17m plus €3m add-ons for the DR Congo international who was born and raised in Belgium.
DJORDJE PETROVIC
With OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka opting for a big-money move to Neom in Saudi Arabia (we can’t compete with those finances), it appears that Sunderland are closing in on a move for Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. The Blues reportedly value their keeper at £25m but, of course, Ghisolfi and Speakman will be doing their best to agree a reduced fee for the 25-year-old. The Serbia international impressed during a loan stint with Strasbourg last season - where he played alongside Sunderland’s new record signing, Habib Diarra. With Robert Sanchez established as Chelsea’s number one, Petrovic is said to be keen on a move to pursue regular top-flight minutes. The recruitment team are reportedly keen to get this deal completed as quickly as possible due to competition from other clubs, with AFC Bournemouth one of those sides named.
PATTO LINKED AWAY
It looks like Sunderland are targeting a top quality number one this summer which potentially leaves question marks over Anthony Patterson’s future. Recently relegated Southampton are reportedly plotting a move for the 25-year-old who was named Man of the Match in Sunderland’s play-off final win in May. Former Saints scout Mick Brown believes that the South Coast club are looking at Patterson in the event that Aaron Ramsdale leaves St Mary’s.
MELVIN BARD
Although former Atletico Madrid fullback Reinildo has reportedly already agreed a deal at Sunderland, French journalist Fabrice Hawkins claims that the Black Cats are also actively pursuing OGC Nice left back Melvin Bard who made 34 appearances for the French side last season. He reports that we’ve offered the 24-year-old a four-year contract with the option of a fifth year, although no agreement has yet been reached between the two clubs. It has also been said that negotiations will be made more difficult due to the relationship between the clubs following Marcin Bulka’s failed transfer… although it is unclear how Bulka deciding to go to Saudi would lead to a breakdown in this relationship. Nice are also keen to retain the player as they gear up for their UEFA Champions League qualifiers later this summer. If Sunderland are actively pursuing another left back despite having already secured Reinildo's signature, some fans have speculated where that leaves Dennis Cirkin.
GEORGES MIKAUTADZE
Perhaps the most ambitious transfer target we’ve heard so far, it would be a real statement if Sunderland manage to bring Georges Mikautadze to the Stadium of Light. The Georgia international is currently a Lyon player but, with the French side suffering administrative relegation to Ligue 2, several of their players are looking for a way out of the club. Mikautadze is certainly not short of suitors with Nottingham Forest, Roma, Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur and unnamed Turkish and Saudi clubs all credited with an interest. However, Corriere Dello Sport have reported that “negotiations are underway between Sunderland and Lyon” for the forward who registered 26 goal contributions with Lyon last season (17 goals and 9 assists) in all competitions.