Sunderland are reportedly targeting a Nottingham Forest player who is set to be released next month.
Sunderland will look to drastically improve their squad after finishing in 16th place last season.
The Black Cats ended the campaign with a much weaker team than the one that reached the Championship play-offs in 2023, while a majority of it was made up by young, inexperienced players.
Sunderland will have to work hard to get the balance right this summer, but it hasn’t taken them very long to be linked with more youngsters.
The Wearside outfit are said to be interested in signing ‘serious prospect’ Divin Mubama, while they are now reportedly targeting a newly-released free agent.
Sunderland are chasing Ateef Konate
According to Africafoot, Sunderland are one of seven clubs chasing a deal for Ateef Konate.
The 23-year-old only made one appearance for Le Havre before earning himself a move to Nottingham Forest in 2021.
Konate went straight into the U21 side and has netted 22 goals and provided 12 assists in 55 games for the youth team.
The attacking midfielder made his senior debut in the Carabao Cup shortly after joining Forest, before making his only league appearance in January 2022.
He was also sent out on loan to Oxford United during the second half of the 2022-23 season, but managed only five appearances and two starts.
After failing to force his way into the first-team squad at the City Ground, Konate is now set to be released when his contract expires next month.
The ‘excellent’ Frenchman is now reportedly a target for Sunderland, Huddersfield, Derby, Leeds, Westerlo and Vitesse Arnhem.
Sunderland are still waiting for Amad & Pritchard replacements
Sunderland still haven’t replaced Alex Pritchard following his unexpected departure in January, while they have desperately missed former loanee Amad Diallo too.
The Black Cats really need a new creative midfielder and a move for Konate could be risk-free, given that they would only have to pay his wages.
The 23-year-old could also be tempted by a move to link up with his compatriots in Timothee Pembele, Pierre Ekwah, Abdoullah Ba and Adil Aouchiche.
Konate was never really given a chance for Forest and could be given a fresh start at the Stadium of Light.
Like all the youngsters we could bring in, the board need to realise that we can’t throw him in as a starter and instead need some experienced players above him in the pecking order.
Amad didn’t establish himself as a regular starter on Wearside until a couple of months into the campaign and then his hard work really paid off. Throwing them in at the deep end definitely isn’t the answer.