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Whilst news broke yesterday that Joel Asoro could be off to Swansea City, several other players with unresolved futures have moved closer to the exit door over the last few days.
It’s our understanding that Lamine Kone, Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong have received new interest and that all involved parties are hopefully of concluding deals that will see them leave the club.
Lamine Kone is thought to be the closest to the exit door, and should be the next after Wahbi Khazri and Joel Asoro to leave. Reports in France today have linked him with RC Strasbourg Alsace, but it’s thought that there are other clubs who are closer to securing a deal for him.
Papy Djilobodji is the subject of significant interest from a Russian club, whilst there are a number of different teams that have enquired about Gabon international Didier Ndong.
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Their departures would see a significant amount of money stay with the club, with each player earning a weekly wage that far exceeds any other player at all other clubs at this level.
Coming in appears to be young ex-Everton defender Jack Bainbridge, who left Swansea at the end of last season having never made an appearance for their first team.
Former Sky Sports reporter Peter O’Rourke - who has close links to many agents within the game - broke the news this morning.
The 20-year old spent five years at Goodison Park and then one year in the Swansea U23s side, but is thought to be close to agreeing a deal to join up with Sunderland ahead of the new season.
The club have made an attempt to strengthen their U23s side this summer already, with Jordan Hunter arriving from Liverpool, and the addition of Bainbridge to Elliott Dickman’s squad on a free transfer further signals an intent to pick up players with potential from top academies in a bid to nurture them within our own system.