Sunderland’s potential acquisition of Mendy has dominated the summer headlines at the Stadium of Light, and the saga seems far from over. With the Black Cats set to face Cardiff City this Saturday, the team is lacking in offensive firepower.
The club’s interest in SM Caen’s Mendy became apparent weeks ago. The striker, in a statement to French outlet Foot Mercato, announced his preference for Sunderland over a move to Saudi Arabia.
However, Sport in Caen reported that Sunderland’s initial bid was under £1 million, significantly below Caen’s valuation. France-based journalist Luke Entwistle told Football League World that a fee between £3-4 million would be necessary to secure Mendy.
Though negotiations appeared to stall, Mendy reiterated his desire to leave in another statement via Foot Mercato on Saturday, saying: “My decision was made in January and since June my destination has been known.”
Despite Mendy’s clear intentions, an agreement between the clubs has not been reached. It remains uncertain if Sunderland’s owner, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, will break the club’s transfer record to secure the deal.
Louis-Dreyfus’ cautious spending might hinder Sunderland’s progress
Since taking over at the Stadium of Light, Louis-Dreyfus has adopted a careful and strategic approach to transfers. Historically, the club has suffered from poor financial decisions, epitomized by the £4 million signing of Will Grigg from Wigan Athletic, which was featured in the Netflix series ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’. Grigg left on a free transfer to MK Dons after scoring just eight goals in 62 appearances.
Louis-Dreyfus is keen to avoid such errors, but his reluctance to meet Mendy’s asking price could jeopardize Sunderland’s ambitions. The club has struggled to replace Ross Stewart, who was sold to Southampton in the summer of 2023 after scoring 40 goals in 80 appearances and netting the club £9.30 million.
In the year since Stewart’s departure, Sunderland has failed to find a capable replacement. Last season, forwards Mason Burstow, Nazariy Rusyn, and Luis ‘Hemir’ Semedo collectively managed only three goals, underscoring the need for a prolific striker.
The £2.5 million spent on Rusyn represents the highest fee paid for a player under Louis-Dreyfus, reflecting a conservative transfer strategy. However, this approach may be insufficient to acquire a player of Mendy’s caliber.
Eliezer Mayenda, given a chance during pre-season, might lead the attack, but this is a significant responsibility for the 19-year-old, who struggled for playing time on loan at Hibernian last season.
Even if Mendy signs, it is unlikely the deal will be finalized before the season opener. Every Championship game is critical, and the standings could hinge on the smallest margins.