Leeds United has already seen Habib Diarra join the Black Cats this summer.
Leeds United’s transfer target Noah Sadiki is set to join Premier League rivals Sunderland, according to sources.
Sunderland sealed a club record £30 million purchase for RC Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra earlier this week, with the 21-year-old signing a five-year contract at the Stadium of Light amid interest from Leeds. Elland Road bosses tabled a bid reported to be worth £22 million but did not receive an upgraded figure as Stadium of Light chiefs went substantially higher.
Leeds are not believed to have made any such bid for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise prodigy Sadiki, despite rumors to the contrary, but the YEP believes he was on their list of midfield targets. However, the 20-year-old is set to join Diarra at Sunderland, with Fabrizio Romano reporting an agreement.
In a post on X, Romano claims Sunderland and USG have agreed on an initial sum of €17 million (£14.7 million) and an additional €3 million (£2.6 million) for Sadiki, who had medical tests with the Black Cats on Wednesday morning. The dynamic midfielder is due to sign a five-year contract at the Stadium of Light, with official confirmation anticipated shortly.
The DR Congo international’s move to Sunderland is another potential setback for Leeds, who already have other midfield ambitions but have seen two prospective possibilities join a Premier League relegation opponent. Elland Road chiefs were unwilling to spend £30 million for Diarra, and it is unclear where they would have valued Sadiki, but both were admired enough by recruitment chiefs to be on the shortlist.
The Black Cats have also activated a permanent option for last season’s on-loan attacking midfielder Enzo Le Fee, indicating that club officials fully support manager Regis Le Bris ahead of their Premier League comeback. Reinildo Mandava, a free agency left-back who departed Atletico Madrid after the Club World Cup, is also said to be on their radar.
Leeds United’s newest midfield transfer comes following Noah Sadiki’s blow
Leeds will now have to go elsewhere in their pursuit for midfield reinforcements, with a new target emerging this week. The YEP exclusively reported on interest in Hoffenheim’s 26-year-old German international Anton Stach, however the club, like Diarra and Sadiki, anticipates competition for his services.
Stach has been a regular in the Bundesliga for four years, playing for Hoffenheim and Mainz, and has emerged as one of Germany’s greatest ball-winning midfielders. The 6ft 4ins player can also operate further forward almost as easily and moves the ball well after winning possession.
Sean Longstaff of Newcastle United has also been mentioned as a possible target elsewhere, with the 27-year-old nearing the end of his contract at St James’ Park and potentially looking for more regular football. According to recent sources, interest in the Magpies man has cooled for the time being, with attention shifting elsewhere.
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