Sunderland Transfer News: SAFC 'ready' to meet valuation for Atletico star

Sunderland are reportedly prepared to meet the asking price for an out-of-favour Atletico Madrid player as Regis Le Bris looks to take advantage of his side’s superb start to their Premier League campaign.

The Black Cats have astonished many doubters over the past few months, with last season’s play-off winners sitting pretty in 10th place despite a 3-0 midweek defeat to Brentford – their first loss in six games.

Remarkably, the Wearsiders remain in contention for a European place next season, as just four points had separated them from champions Liverpool in fourth following defeat in west London.

The January transfer window has now become a prime opportunity to make the most of their impressive start, with Sunderland linked with a blockbuster move for Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez last weekend.

And the rumours don’t stop there, as they continue to be in the conversation for more talents from the continent’s biggest clubs.

According to Spanish news outlet Fichajes, Sunderland are one of three clubs willing to meet the asking price of Atletico Madrid winger Thiago Almada.

The Argentinian, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon, has not had much game time since his summer switch to the Spanish capital.

As a result, Atletico are thought to be under pressure to deal with the club’s finances, pushing players like Almada closer to the exit door.

The 24-year-old has started just four La Liga matches this term, and is said to have a valuation of €25m (£21.7m) – a price Sunderland, along with Aston Villa and reigning Serie A champions Napoli, are prepared to meet.

It is claimed that Le Bris is after a ‘high-profile’ midfield signing, and Almada has often been deployed in attacking midfield at the Metropolitano. In fact, he has played there most frequently during his career, though he was a regular on the left flank at previous club Botafogo.

The fact that Sunderland are being discussed among Europe’s big guns for players is a mark of their meteoric rise since promotion.

It could well be argued that their aggressive transfer policy in the summer, which saw them bring in Bundesliga champion Granit Xhaka and exciting talents like Enzo Le Fee and Nordi Mukiele, has elevated their status further.

Now perhaps seen as a club that can punch above its weight in the transfer market as well as the Premier League itself, Sunderland could yet continue to be an exciting proposition for wantaway players for quite some time.

Having spent the best part of £200m in the summer, whether they have the finances to pull another big deal off could come into question, but with game time a key factor amid Thiago Almada’s potential departure, his head could easily be turned by a club keen to consolidate its long-term place in the English top flight.

Graduated in Sport Journalism (BA) with first-class honours from the University of Brighton and has since had bylines in The Times, sports business publication SportsPro, Football FanCast and The Gooner fanzine.