Sunderland in transfer race with Newcastle United for £20m star | OneFootball

Wilfried Singo is reportedly on the Black Cats' radar ahead of the summer window

Premier League-bound Sunderland have reportedly registered their interest in signing AS Monaco centre-back Wilfried Singo, following previous reports of Tyne-Wear rivals Newcastle United also planning a move for the 24-year-old.

The Black Cats' outstanding Championship campaign under Regis Le Bris reached a brilliant conclusion in the play-off final against Sheffield United last weekend, as winger Tommy Watson struck in added-time to send his boyhood club back to the top-flight after eight long years away.

Le Bris will no doubt have been celebrating his unlikely victory over the last few days, but his full focus will soon turn to the upcoming summer transfer window, which promises to be one of the biggest in the club's history in terms of both incomings and outgoings.

The French boss is likely to delve into his home country's transfer market for new signings once again this summer, and Ivorian defender Singo, who has been with Monaco for two years, looks to be one of those on the club's radar.

Sunderland plot Wilfried Singo transfer amid Newcastle United links

24-year-old Singo first made the move to Europe to join Italian side Torino in 2019, and despite being initially assigned to their under-19 squad, he made his professional debut in August of the same year in a Europa League qualifying clash.

He progressed to make his league debut a year later, and soon became a regular for the Maroons in Serie A. The Ivorian international featured 109 times for Torino across four seasons before making a €10 million (£8.3m) move to Monaco in August 2023.

Singo was a key man for Adi Hutter's side in his debut season at the club, making 25 Ligue 1 appearances as they surprisingly finished as runners-up to qualify for the Champions League.

He has continued to be a regular in league and European competition in the campaign just finished, but now looks set to depart the Monégasque side, after L'Équipe reported in April that the club were set to be open to selling him this summer.

GIVEMESPORT claimed earlier this month that Premier League outfit Newcastle were on 'red alert' to his situation and considering offering him a route out of Monaco in the coming months, and now it looks as if north-east rivals Sunderland have joined the race for his services.

According to a Daily Mirror report from May 28, via MackemNews, the Black Cats are keen to sign Singo this summer as Le Bris aims to bolster his defensive ranks ahead of their top-flight return.

The 24-year-old has three years left on his contract at the Stade Louis II, but Monaco are reportedly tempted to let him leave for a fee of around £20 million, with Singo claimed to be keen on a move to England.

Sunderland need defensive additions this summer - Singo would be a stellar signing

Sunderland certainly deserved their moment in the sun at Wembley last weekend, following an impressive campaign which culminated in them sealing a return to the Premier League, but their squad will definitely need improvements made to it if they are to stand a chance of survival next season.

As it stands, Dan Ballard and Luke O'Nien are the only two centre-backs that Le Bris can count as first-team regulars ready to make the step-up to the top-flight, and so major additions are clearly needed at the heart of his defence if they are to be competitive week-in, week-out against some of Europe's best sides.

Singo may well lack experience in English football, but he is exactly the kind of player that the Black Cats should be targeting this summer. He is versatile, in that he can play at centre-back, right-back and right-wing-back, and he is also quick and strong, which are two of the most important attributes for defenders playing in the top-flight on these shores.

The issue Sunderland could face this summer is the number of clubs rivalling them for his signature, after Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri recently reported that both Napoli and Fiorentina were interested in making an approach for his services, while his former club Torino were also thought to be plotting a move.

Whether the Black Cats will be able to convince Singo to join their Premier League project is unclear, but head-coach Le Bris is likely to be a major factor in potential negotiations, as shown by his previous ability to coax French-speaking players like Wilson Isidor and Enzo Le Fee to Wearside.