Sunderland are interested in taking Ryan Alebiosu on loan from Premier League giants Arsenal, Roberto De Fanti has told All Nigeria Soccer.
Now, if you read our opening line with a look of bemusement on your face, we can understand why.
After all, how on earth does De Fanti know what’s going on behind the scenes at the Stadium of Light? The Italian hasn’t occupied a role at Sunderland since 2014, when his ill-fated spell as director of football came to an end.
Allow us to explain.
De Fanti is back working as an agent these days and one of his clients is Alebiosu, the highly rated 19-year-old right-back who signed his first professional contract with Arsenal last summer.
So if Sunderland want to tie up a deal for the versatile defender before next week’s transfer deadline, they will have to negotiate with a man responsible for bringing El-Hadji Ba, Modibo Diakite and Charis Mavrias to Wearside.
“They are interested,” De Fanti said when asked to comment on rumours linking Alebiosu with the Black Cats.
“It is a loan.”
Ryan Alebiosu could solve Sunderland’s right-back problems
Promotion-chasing Sunderland have hardly spent a penny in the transfer window but that doesn’t mean they have failed to reinforce Lee Johnson’s squad ahead of another top-six battle.
A pair of proven Championship performers in Alex Pritchard and Corry Evans arrived on frees, while the north east giants have also padded out their ranks with a handful of youngsters brought in on loan from Premier League clubs – Nathan Broadhead, Frederik Alves Ibsen, Niall Huggins and Callum Doyle.
And given central midfielder Carl Winchester has been forced to fill in at right-back during the opening weeks of 2021/22, a natural option in the shape of Alebiosu would be well received too.
Sunderland have also been linked with Nottingham Forest prospect Jordan Gabriel.
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