Sunderland’s on loan Wahbi Khazri now said wanted by three French clubs

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Championship strugglers Sunderland shouldn’t have any problems selling Wahbi Khazri this summer after his fine form in Ligue 1 with Rennes.

Rennes fans haven’t witnessed the creativity or the skill of a player this good since Ousmane Dembele was lighting up Roazhon Park, and establishing himself as perhaps the finest young talent in world football at the moment.

But Sunderland loanee Wahbi Khazri has looked every bit as influential for the Ligue 1 side this season as Dembele, who swapped Dortmund for Barcelona for an initial £96 million, did during the 2015/16 campaign.

The Tunisian attacker has eight goals in 16 appearances for Sabri Lamouchi’s side – meaning that Sunderland will have no difficulty selling Khazri permanently at the end of this season.

Khazri moved to Wearside from Bordeaux in January 2016 for £9 million, playing a huge part in their great escape from relegation under Sam Allardyce. He then fell out of favour under David Moyes and left on loan last summer following Sunderland’s drop into the Championship.

But according to the Northern Echo, Sunderland look set to be due to get some of their £9m investment back from Khazri’s inevitable summer sale.

Rennes would obviously like to keep their talisman permanently, but would struggle to meet Sunderland’s asking price and pay Khazri’s wages over a prolonged period.

It could be more likely, then, that Khazri joins big-spending Marseille, who have recovered from a couple of poor seasons to fight for a place in the Champions League this season. Nice are also keen, and Khazri could replace the influential Mario Balotelli, whose contract expires in the summer. And Sunderland will want to get as much of that £9m transfer fee back as possible.