adminSunderland may need to return to the transfer market to strengthen their squad before the summer window closes at the beginning of September.
The Black Cats endured a difficult start to their Premier League campaign on Saturday, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town. Sunderland struggled to create clear opportunities, registering just 0.66 expected goals (xG) during the match.
Thomas Meunier, who completed the full 90 minutes, and Dayann Methalie, who arrived late last week, remain the club’s only summer additions so far.
Midfield is one position that could still be strengthened, with Noah Sadiki potentially facing competition for his place before the deadline.
Why Sunderland Could Upgrade on Noah Sadiki
Since arriving from Union Saint-Gilloise for around £15m last year, Sadiki has generally been a dependable player for Sunderland. The DR Congo international brings energy, athleticism and plenty of defensive work to the midfield.
However, his contribution in the final third has been limited. The 21-year-old finished the 2025/26 campaign without scoring a goal and was also unable to convert a good opportunity against Ipswich, sending a header too close to the goalkeeper.
Sadiki’s defensive numbers were much stronger last season, with the midfielder averaging 2.4 tackles and interceptions per game. His work in possession, however, was less convincing at times.
Although he averaged only 8.3 possession losses per match, Sadiki has not consistently demonstrated outstanding passing ability or a major attacking threat. Sunderland could therefore benefit from adding a midfielder with greater technical quality and composure, particularly in matches where Regis Le Bris wants more control in possession.
Marc Casado Could Be the Answer
Sunderland have reportedly identified Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado as a potential target who could provide an upgrade in the middle of the park.
According to TEAMtalk, the Black Cats are among the clubs interested in the Spanish midfielder and have already held discussions regarding his availability. Barcelona are reportedly prepared to consider selling the 22-year-old before the transfer deadline.
Sunderland face strong competition, however, with Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion also said to be monitoring the midfielder and exploring a possible deal.
Barcelona reportedly value Casado at around £34m, while his limited starting opportunities last season could make a move possible. He started only 12 matches across LaLiga and the Champions League during the campaign.
His previous season demonstrated his potential. In 2024/25, Casado started 27 matches across those competitions and produced six goal contributions. By comparison, Sadiki managed just one goal contribution in 33 Premier League starts for Sunderland.
Casado also offers a strong combination of physicality and technical ability. He has won at least 50% of his duels in each of the last two LaLiga campaigns, while his passing accuracy has remained particularly impressive.
The Barcelona midfielder completed at least 90.2% of his passes in both of his full senior seasons. Sadiki, meanwhile, has never surpassed an 86.8% passing completion rate across an entire senior campaign and recorded 85.7% last season.
Casado could therefore give Sunderland greater composure, reliability and creativity in possession without sacrificing the physical side of midfield.
With several Premier League clubs reportedly interested, Sunderland’s board may need to act quickly if they want to win the race for his signature. Bringing Casado to the Stadium of Light could provide Le Bris with the technical quality and balance needed to strengthen his midfield for the new Premier League campaign.
admin
