Sunderland and Kylian Mbappe are two names you wouldn’t expect to see together this summer. However, the Black Cats’ quest for a dependable goalscorer at the Stadium of Light may hinge, at least partially, on Real Madrid’s newest star.
Sunderland have long been pursuing Alexandre Mendy.
Despite his expected departure from SM Caen and training apart from the first team, negotiations are moving at a slow pace. Foot Mercato reports that Mendy has chosen Sunderland over clubs like Sampdoria and Al-Ahly. However, with Kylian Mbappe’s family set to take over Caen, the new owners want to persuade Mendy to stay at the Stade Michel d’Ornano.
After another pre-season loss without their 23-goal top scorer, teammate Mickael Le Bihan is acutely aware of how tough it will be to replace Mendy, who has emerged as Sunderland’s top striker target.
Le Bihan tells Actu, “We don’t have the same style at all without Alex. He has scored a lot of goals here. It will be very hard to replace him but every striker must score goals. I want to score mine.” If the £4.2 million-rated Mendy moves to England, the challenge might fall on the 34-year-old Le Bihan, who only scored three goals last season compared to Mendy’s 23.
Mendy, who won the Golden Boot in France’s second tier in 2023/24, has broken the 20-goal barrier in each of the last two seasons. His arrival would be a significant boost for a Sunderland team that has struggled for goals since Ross Stewart joined Southampton. Only Jack Clarke reached double figures last season, with players like Luis Semedo and Nazarii Rustyn yet to prove their worth.
Mendy told Foot Mercato, “By the time Sunderland came along, there was no debate anymore. It’s a sporting choice, and I’m really looking forward to starting this new journey.” However, his move to Sunderland is stalled, and the Black Cats hope to make progress soon.
Sunderland’s head coach, Regis Le Bris, acknowledged the team’s need for a reliable striker, telling The Chronicle, “Everyone could score goals. The responsibility is always on the striker, which is difficult. We know this position is always important for a team and obviously the club, the organisation, is aware of this problem.”
Le Bris emphasized the importance of a clear game model and adapting to the strengths of older players. He believes in a balanced, energetic game that excites fans and aims for consistent high pressing and fast attacks. The primary goal is to establish a winning style of play, although it requires a mentality and willingness to improve.