Wahbi Khazri is close to a move from Sunderland as St Etienne join the race to sign the forward.
Saint-Etienne have joined the race to sign Wahbi Khazri, reports French publication L’Equipe, as the attacker’s Sunderland exit edges closer.
Khazri is desperate to leave the Stadium of Light this summer and the Black Cats are happy to sell the Tunisia international if their asking price of upwards of £5m is met.
St Etienne’s Ligue 1 rivals Rennes – where the 27-year-old spent last season on loan – are also interested, as are Turkish club Besiktas.
Love Island World Cup: If EVERY contestant was a 2018 World Cup team
The Istanbul side did initially put forward the idea of signing Khazri on a two-year loan – which would have taken him to the end of his current contract on Wearside – but new owner Stewart Donald dismissed that idea.
The Tunisian’s agent also had the proposal of allowing his client to leave for free knocked back by Donald, but it still seems a move away from England is imminent.
Getting Khazri’s large wages off the books will be of huge benefit to Sunderland as they rebuild after suffering their second successive relegation to drop from the Premier League to League One within two campaigns.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
