Fabio Paratici ‘Personally Working’ To Beat Sunderland To Attacker | OneFootball

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Fiorentina have optimism about reaching an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to beat Sunderland to Ernest Poku and sporting director Fabio Paratici is ‘personally working’ to close the deal.

The Black Cats want to make key additions to the squad before the end of the summer transfer window, as the club have only signed defender Thomas Meunier so far.

Sunderland put the transfer of Toulouse star Dayann Methalie on hold, but recently an ‘important clarification’ over him training separately has emerged and the club are still keen on the young full-back.

Adding in attack is also a focus and Sunderland have been looking at an option in the Bundesliga.

Recently, the Black Cats were identified as the only competition to Fiorentina in the hunt for Bayer Leverkusen winger Poku.

Fiorentina are now working as quickly as possible to close the agreement and are optimistic, with sporting director Paratici ‘personally working’ to get it over the line, according to Italian outlet Firenze Viola.

Both clubs are working on a loan deal which will also include an obligation to buy, and the transfer could be worth approximately €20m.

Poku arrived at Bayer Leverkusen just last summer from the Dutch side AZ Alkmaar and his current contract with the club runs until 2030.

In the previous campaign, the 22-year-old made 29 Bundesliga appearances, scoring five goals and also chipping in with five assists in the process.

Poku is a versatile midfield player who can operate as a left winger, right winger, left midfielder, right midfielder, attacking midfielder, and at times a second striker.

But Poku is not the only winger on Sunderland’s radar, as the club are keen on Sporting Lisbon star Geny Catamo and are willing to offer him a hefty salary.

All eyes will be on how Sunderland react to Fiorentina’s big push to land Poku, with it unclear just how high up he is on the Black Cats wanted list.