Lyon midfielder Skelly Alvero has sealed a move to the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen while putting an end to those Sunderland rumours.
Reports emerged last week suggesting that the Black Cats could take advantage of the midfielder’s struggles at the Stade OL and offer him a fresh start at the Stadium of Light, Skelly Alvero potentially the latest young talent to cross the Channel and swap France for Wearside.
It can now be confirmed, however, that the former Sochaux ace will not be following in the footsteps of Timothee Pembele, Edouard Michut, Adil Aouchiche and Eliezer Mayenda.
Sunderland will not sign Skelly Alvero
A Werder Bremen side who are also expected to bring in Manchester United youngster Isak Hansen-Aaroen announced on the penultimate day of the window that Alvero will be plying his trade in Germany – rather than in England’s north east – until the summer and perhaps beyond.
“Our aim was to broaden our squad a little more,” Bremen director Clemens Fritz explains. “We’ve achieved that with the loan of Skelly.
“He is a very interesting player who now has the opportunity to develop further with us. We’ll then sit down together in the summer and see whether we can take up the option to buy.”
Bremen can reportedly sign the 6ft 8ins colossus for a fee of around £5.5 million a few months down the line.
“Skelly already has a lot of experience from the second division in France, and has also gained his first match experience in Ligue 1,” adds coach Ole Werner added. “He is a tall and robust player who can play both an offensive and defensive role in midfield.”
Black Cats land Romaine Mundle and want Callum Styles
Sunderland, who picked up three much-needed points to ease the pressure on Mick Beale against Stoke City last time out, confirmed the £2 million signing of former Tottenham starlet Romaine Mundle from Standard Liege today while Alex Pritchard reunites with Tony Mowbray at Birmingham City.
The Northern Echo reports that Sunderland are ‘increasingly confident’ of signing Callum Styles from Barnsley. Striker target Kieffer Moore, however, is joining rivals Ipswich Town.
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