Championship strugglers Sunderland loaned Wahbi Khazri to Rennes and he is in sensational form right now in Ligue 1.
Why David Moyes seemed intent on turning Sunderland’s most creative player into an outcast during his one dismal season on Wearside is anyone’s guess.
It was not until the spring that Wahbi Khazri, who had played such a key role in Sunderland’s great escape under Sam Allardyce the year before, finally started to appear with any regularity for the Black Cats.
It was too late by then, of course. Sunderland finished bottom and it is fair to say that they and Khazri have gone in different directions since.
The gloom around the Stadium of Light might have been lifted somewhat by that staggering three-goal comeback away to Bristol City on Saturday but, make no mistake, Sunderland are still heading into League One as things stand.
Khazri, on the other hand, is enjoying arguably the best run of his career. The little Tunisian winger has been revitalised since returning to Ligue 1 with Rennes, scoring seven goals in 14 starts in France’s top flight.
He netted again to inspire Sunday’s impressive 2-0 win away to Lyon, producing arguably his best performance since his halcyon days at Bordeaux. And, just to make matters worse for Sunderland, L’Equipe reports that the cash-strapped club are still paying a hefty portion of his wages during his loan spell in Rennes.
Of all the players Sunderland have sold in the last few years, maybe Khazri is one they should have kept.
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