Sunderland targeting new French youngster for possible summer swoop

Is Sunderland's already strong French contingent about to grow some more?

Author:
Michael Graham
Publish date:
Mar 22, 2023 10:08 AM EDT

Sunderland are considering adding to their contingent of young French players this summer with a move for Haissem Hassan.

The 21-year-old winger is at Villarreal at the moment, although he is yet to make his breakthrough. However, he did have a very successful loan spell at Spanish Secunda division side CD Mirandes last season.

According to French newspaper L’Equipe, Sunderland are one of a number of clubs to have taken a serious look at Hassan, with Bordeaux, RC Lens, Udinese and Brentford also interested.

Hassan, who was born in Paris but has an Egyptian father and Tunisian mother, is similar to Isaac Lihadji mold in being a left-footed winger, although he is more comfortable on the left. He has also been capped 10 times for France at youth level.

Sunderland have a strong French influence at the club already. As well as Lihadji, Edouard Michut, Abdoullah Ba and Pierre Ekwah have all become first-team players at the club this season and a lot more is expected of them in the future as well.

Getting Hassan out of Villarreal may not be easy, though, with them believed to consider him a ready-made replacement for the in-demand Samuel Chukwueze.

However, if a summer move does not materialise for the Nigerian, there is every chance Hassan will seek first team football elsewhere.

The L'Equipe report claims Sunderland are taking an interest as the data from his loan spell at Mirandes was especially impressive, which would certainly fit recent recruitment trends at the club.

Read more Sunderland news