Sunderland strongly pursuing £38m “soldier” after Xhaka

Sunderland’s lengthy wait to carry Granit Xhaka to the Stadium of Gentle this summer time now appears to be like to be over.

Certainly, the entire saga to carry the Swiss worldwide again to English shores has seemingly concluded, because the ex-Arsenal enforcer appears to be like set to finish a medical imminently after touchdown in Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen.

For £17m, it may nicely be Sunderland’s most vital signing of the summer time in providing Regis Le Bris’ troops some much-needed Premier League expertise.

Nevertheless, though expertise has been wanted in clinching the 32-year-old’s signature, the Black Cats may even look to the longer term when making different standout summer time purchases, understanding the success they’ve had with starlets reminiscent of Chris Rigg.

Sunderland present sturdy curiosity in £38m expertise

After all, the Wearside outfit may even be prioritising extra Premier League-ready captures, away from going all in on their younger and hungry mannequin.

Stefan Ortega is the following top-flight star on their radar, having impressed in spurts as Manchester Metropolis’s back-up goalkeeper, with a shock transfer for Jamie Vardy additionally allegedly on the playing cards after he waved goodbye to Leicester Metropolis just lately.

However, there has additionally been apt time for Sunderland to scout out some promising skills who may go on to the membership’s subsequent large factor, with Fiorentina’s 20-year-old centre-back Pietro Comuzzo catching the attention on this regard.

As per reviews from Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, Sunderland, Manchester United, and Nottingham Forest are all exhibiting a powerful curiosity within the up-and-coming Italian, with no presents coming Fiorentina’s means, simply but.

It may price Sunderland a considerable £38m to get the deal over the road, nevertheless. However, this is perhaps a worthwhile funding to make, if he all of the sudden explodes into life within the Premier League, very similar to Rigg managed underneath Le Bris’ wing within the second tier.

Why Comuzzo could possibly be Sunderland’s subsequent Rigg

Rigg had already amassed 25 first crew appearances on the Stadium of Gentle earlier than the Frenchman’s impressed appointment.

However, he would actually come into his personal underneath the watchful eye of the ex-Lorient supervisor, who has even been hailed as a “father determine” in his method with children, in keeping with journalist Luke Entwistle.

In whole, the thrilling 18-year-old midfielder would make 47 appearances final season as Sunderland triumphantly secured promotion, with 4 targets and one help additionally coming his approach to play a pivotal half in his facet’s whirlwind ascent again to the Premier League.

Understanding what their crew has managed to attain with Rigg in such a brief house of time will make the Wearside plenty much more wanting to see what Comuzzo may obtain in his contemporary atmosphere, with the 20-year-old already in and across the senior Italy circles as a global, after trying means past his years in his native nation final season, very similar to the teenage sensation.

Comuzzo’s breakout marketing campaign, which noticed him accumulate a promising six clear sheets from 33 Serie A appearances, has led to him gaining many plaudits, along with his former Fiorentina supervisor, Raffaele Palladino, hailing him as “extraordinary” for the maturity he shows when throwing himself into 3.6 duels on common within the testing terrain of the Italian top-flight.

That has additional led to Palladino donning him a “soldier” for this resilience and vitality, away from additionally being labelled as an “old style defender” by Italian scout Michele Fratini for his willingness to get caught in, whilst a 20-year-old nonetheless studying the ropes.

He’ll look to proceed his upward trajectory on Wearside, with Comuzzo already one season down in a taxing top-flight atmosphere.

This breakout providing in Florence has even seen him be shortlisted for the 2025 Golden Boy award, as he goals to grow to be the following high starlet on the Stadium of Gentle in an identical vein to Rigg and different notable names earlier than the 18-year-old.