Sunderland very frustrated as deal for £4m star stalls despite terms being agreed.
Sunderland are hugely frustrated as a potential £4.2 million deal for SM Caen striker Alexandre Mendy is held up by Kylian Mbappe’s takeover of the French outfit.
Come Saturday, it will be only one week until the Black Cats kick off their new Championship campaign away to Cardiff City.
And, try as they might, Sunderland are still no closer to finding a solution to their goalscoring problems.
The Wearside outfit slumped to a disappointing 15th place finish last term after reaching the play-offs the year before. What’s more, only seven teams scored fewer than Sunderland’s 52 goals.
They were comfortably outscored by both Plymouth Argyle and Blackburn Rovers, two teams who went into the final day fearing relegation.
So if Sunderland are to have any chance of returning to the top-six battle this time around, a long-awaited replacement for former talisman Ross Stewart feels like a necessity between now and the start of September.
Sunderland still hope to sign Caen striker Alexandre Mendy
HITC understands that, with discussions over a move for Alexandre Mendy still stalling, Sunderland have been left frustrated in the extreme.
Mendy hit the target 23 times across 2023/24, winning the Ligue 2 Golden Boot along the way. And while he is older than the usual Sunderland signing at the age of 30, the Black Cats appear willing to break from recent tradition in pursuit of a number nine capable of emulating Stewart’s impact at the Stadium of Light.
Mendy, meanwhile, has even confirmed his desire to secure a move to England’s north east.
“By the time Sunderland came along, there was no debate anymore,” Mendy told Foot Mercato in July. “It’s a sporting choice, and I’m really looking forward to starting this new journey.”
Much to the frustration of both Mendy and Sunderland, however, an agreement remains elusive.
This week came the eye-catching news that Interconnected Ventures – a company owned by Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe – had completed their takeover of Stade Malherbe Caen.
HITC have been told that Caen’s new bosses will not sign off on Mendy’s sale until they have held talks with the late-blooming frontman.
Interconnected Ventures remain determined to retain Mendy despite knowing that he has already agreed terms with Sunderland.
Black Cats look at alternative striker targets
France-based reporter Luke Entwistle recently told Football League World that Caen could hold around for a fee in the region of £4 million.
Sunderland are allegedly also keen on Ike Ugbo as they run the rule over a number of Mendy alternatives. The Star reports that Regis Le Bris’ side are still in the race though Sheffield Wednesday have now agreed a deal in principle for around £2.5 million.
Ugbo is contracted to Caen’s Ligue 2 rivals Troyes. He spent last season on loan in the Championship with Cardiff and Wednesday, however, scoring 11 goals along the way.
Speaking of Cardiff, HITC understands that both The Bluebirds and the Black Cats are also in pursuit of Goduine Koyalipou.
Like Mendy, Koyalipou ended last season as a Golden Boot winner in one of Europe’s second-tier leagues. He scored 17 times for Belgian outfit Beveren, catching the eye of Sunderland as well as next week’s opening day opponents.
Ambitious Birmingham City are also hot on the heels of Koyalipou.
