Sunderland in talks to sign star who played under Tuchel and Pochettino

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Tony Mowbray’s Sunderland side are reportedly in talks to sign Colin Dagba from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain. 

Edouard Michut might not have done enough to secure himself a permanent move to the Stadium of Light – Sunderland opting to bring in Jobe Bellingham rather than trigger the £2 million option-to-buy clause in the midfielder’s contract.

But Michut’s short-lived spell on Wearside might just have opened the door for Sunderland to sign another player from the French capital, the Black Cats seemingly striking up an unexpected relationship with one of Europe’s most deep-pocketed clubs. 

According to French publication Foot Mercato, Sunderland are in talks to sign a Paris Saint-Germain player for the second summer in succession, albeit this time on a permanent – rather than temporary – basis. 

Sunderland in PSG talks for Colin Dagba

Colin Dagba, a 24-year-old full-back, is at the heart of discussions with Mowbray’s side. Capped 16 times by France at U21 level, Dagba – who played under Thomas Tuchel, Unai Emery and Mauricio Pochettino in Paris – has two years left on his PSG contract but will be allowed to leave after spending the 2022/23 season on loan at Strasbourg. 

An athletic, all-action right-back who can also play on the left if required, Dagba would give Mowbray another, natural option on the flank. Trai Hume was outstanding last season – scoring against Luton Town in the Championship play-off semi-finals – but Sunderland have lacked depth in the right-sided position with injury restricting Niall Huggins to just one league appearance over the last 12 months.

Dagba, meanwhile, would arrive with three-time Ligue 1 winners’ medals on his CV, though he is yet to build on that career-best display in the Champions League against Bayern Munich two years ago. 

“For me, it means a lot to be able to have PSG youth products on the pitch,” fellow defender Presnel Kimpembe said at the time; Dagba going toe-to-toe with the fearsome Kingsley Coman.  

“It shows that there is soul in this club. Colin showed what he was capable of, I am very proud of him. Collectively we did the job. But I would like to congratulate (Dagba) because he was hyper-focused.”