Matthis Abline was connected with Sunderland early this summer and continues to be in the heart of conjecture in France.
Sunderland transfer target Matthis Abline was allegedly given a ten-minute dressing down by Nantes head coach Luis Castro over the weekend, amid continuous speculation about his future in France.
The 22-year-old has been the subject of much conjecture this summer, with reports in late June indicating he was a target for the Black Cats, as well as Premier League rivals Brentford and Burnley.
More recently, internet outlet Caught Offside stated that Leeds United have emerged as the frontrunners for Abline’s signature, with talks between Daniel Farke’s club and Nantes allegedly begun. The French club, for their side, is said to be unwilling to sell and to value their star at roughly £34.6 million, despite the fact that he is open to the idea of leaving.
A new story from RMC Sport, which details an incident between the forward and his supervisor, Castro, casts further question on Abline’s future with his current employers.
What is the most recent update on alleged Sunderland target Matthis Abline?
According to the European outlet, Abline received strong criticism during Nantes’ Ligue 1 opening against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain over the weekend.
The striker came on as a substitute in the 59th minute of that game after starting on the bench. Despite his brief appearance, RMC claims Castro spent 10 minutes in the dressing room following his team’s 1-0 defeat criticizing Abline’s performance in front of his colleagues and Nantes’ coaching staff.
According to the French site, the goal was to help Abline face his responsibilities on the pitch, particularly when he was not in possession. It is unknown, however, how well the attacker absorbed the public appraisal, especially given the existing difficulties between himself and the club. According to reports, Castro’s denunciation startled Abline’s teammates, especially given the club’s continued efforts to persuade the France U21 international to stay.
What has Matthis Abline said about his future amid Sunderland transfer rumors?
Speaking with L’Equipe while away at the U21s European Championship earlier this summer, Abline was questioned about Nantes’ extravagant valuation of him, as well as potential transfer interest from Marseille, which has since seemingly faded.
He replied, “Yes, I saw that [laughs]. I’m not sure how to react. He has an opinion, so there you go. I’m currently with the U21s and feeling excellent. We’ll see about my own position later.
Speaking specifically about Marseille, he said, “Tempted by OM?”. Many things tempt me [smiles]. Today, I am not planning too far ahead. I am at the Euros. “That is all.” Abline began his career at Stade Rennais, with loan spells at Le Havre and AJ Auxerre.
He joined Nantes in a deal of roughly £8.5 million last summer after spending a short time with the club previously. Last season, he scored 11 goals and two assists in 36 games across all competitions, and he has 32 goals in 138 senior appearances.
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