French Midfielder Comments On Rumoured Sunderland Interest

In what has been a very busy few weeks as far as Sunderland transfer rumours have been concerned, there is a new name to add to the list, in the shape of Saint-Étienne midfielder Josuha Guilavogui.

In an interview with Eurosport, Guilavogui claimed that his agent had made him aware of reported interest from both Sunderland and Galatasaray;

My agent told me about it [rumoured interest from Sunderland and Galatasaray].

Guilavogui, who is currently on international duty with the French senior side, told Eurosport that he will consider any interest after he goes on holiday but hasn't thought about a move abroad;

We're going to see through this get-together and during my holidays, we'll study the question. Frankly, I haven't thought about playing in Turkey or England.

He went on to say that he and his representatives will talk to Saint-Étienne but that he would like to stay at the club;

Coach Galtier has signed a contract extension, which is really important for me as he's my first coach. When i come back from holiday, I think I'll have a discussion with my agent and Saint-Etienne to see what we're going to do and look forward.

I think they're going to want to keep me. I hope so. If they want me to go, it's going to be a bit tough. But the question has to be asked, a lot of things cone into the equation, and the fact i work with agents means i need to talk to them.

It does seem unlikely that the player will leave 'Les Verts', especially as their president recently issued a statement saying only one first-team regular will be leaving the club, which is widely expected to be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

However as a rising star of French football, as well as being an athletic, defensive midfielder with an eye for a pass, 22-year-old Guilavogui certainly fits the profile of young players with potential that Sunderland are now targeting under Di Canio, De Fanti and Angeloni. So he will be a player to keep an eye on in the future.