We are getting to that time of the summer where transfers are happening left, right and centre. Many football fans are consistently checking for updates from the likes of Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein.
One club who have been very busy this summer is Sunderland. They lost Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund, but have made a number of signings so far. Now, according to Keith Downie – they are set to sign Simon Adringra from Brighton & Hove Albion.
In his report, Downie states that the North East side will pay £18m + £2.5m in add ons for the winger. He also says that a deal fell through on Deadline Day to sign the player back in January, as part of a swap deal for Tommy Watson.
All’s well that ends well. In the end, Watson scored the winner in the play-off final to get Sunderland promoted, before then joining Brighton. Now, Regis Le Bris’ side are in the Premier League, and will get Adringra after all.
Some might suggest that The Black Cats might need more experience to add to a very young side. However, despite being just 23, Adingra does have plenty of experience. He already has 60 Premier League appearances to his name, as well as eight games in the Europa League.
Furthermore, he started for Ivory Coast in a home AFCON final, where he provided two assists in a 2-1 win over Nigeria, thus making him the match winner. Playing in that sort of pressure and stepping up bodes very well.
However, that topic is the one real downside to this deal. Adingra, like fellow signings Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, and Reinildo – all play for sides that are participating in this years AFCON. The tournament starts in December this time round, meaning players are set to miss more club games than previously.
In addition, another new signing Chemsdine Talbi is Moroccan. Although unlike the others – he has never been capped for the national team – a good start to the season for Sunderland could see him make his way into the manager’s plans.
You do fear for them during the Christmas period. The games they are (if selected) guaranteed to miss are Brighton away, Leeds at home, and Sunderland away. From then on, it will depend on their nations progress. Fortunately, the first Tyne and Wear derby on the 13th of December will come just in time for them to be available.
Nevertheless, overall this is a very exciting signing. We have seen many young players develop and excel under Le Bris, so it is exciting to see what he will be able to do with Adringra on Wearside.
