XHAKA PARTNER: MATTEO GUENDOUZI KEY TO SUNDERLAND'S TOP-THREE PUSH
Sunderland are reportedly ahead of rivals Newcastle in the transfer race for Lazio's Matteo Guendouzi. Manager Regis Le Bris knows the midfielder well from Lorient.
Sunderland is reportedly in the lead to sign a midfield player that Regis Le Bris knows well, ahead of Newcastle United.
After a loss against Fulham, Le Bris's team definitely wants to bounce back against Bournemouth.
Le Bris said that they have always been able to respond to a loss, and he hopes that will be the case this time also. He says that they are on a new road, facing new opponents and situations, and they need these experiences to get better. He added that they don’t have experience right now, so it is a new lesson, especially when they are trying to figure out problems.
He also mentioned that rotation will happen in a natural way. When they play well, keeping the same starting lineup is important, and it was normal to do that because of the results they had.
If the other games go their way, three points could push the Black Cats up to third place. Those at the Stadium of Light are doing a similar job to what Bournemouth have been doing since they were promoted.
Le Bris said that he admires Bournemouth, stating that Bournemouth is a good example for them, and the way they have grown in the league over the past four seasons is interesting for them.
Sunderland could win their next Wilson Isidor by going after this player in January.
Sunderland might sign Matteo Guendouzi ahead of Newcastle in January.
Sunderland ahead of Newcastle in Guendouzi race
TeamTalk says Sunderland is now ahead of Newcastle in the race to sign Guendouzi in 2026, in a deal that could be worth up to £26m. Le Bris knows the Lazio midfielder from when they were together at Lorient and said that he was still in contact with him a few weeks ago.
It would be a big move if the Black Cats signed a transfer target ahead of their rivals. That's where they are after a great start to the Premier League season.
Sunderland is chasing a reunion between Le Bris and Guendouzi because the Frenchman has been compared to Granit Xhaka so far this season. The transfer report also says that the Black Cats see Guendouzi as the right midfield partner for Xhaka, adding experience to their midfield.
Guendouzi, who was called a great professional by Arne Friedrich, also has something to prove in the Premier League after leaving Arsenal in 2021 and could get a second chance at Sunderland.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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