Sunderland Refuse To Let Manchester United Target Leave In January: The Right Move For Le Bris?

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·24 January 2026

Sunderland Refuse To Let Manchester United Target Leave In January: The Right Move For Le Bris?

Manchester United’s ambition to recruit Noah Sadiki has collided with an immovable object this January. Sunderland are making it clear they won’t sanction the transfer of their midfield linchpin during a stellar Premier League resurgence.

Sunderland firmly rebuts Manchester United’s approach for Noah Sadiki

Pete O’Rourke confirmed that the Red Devils face a futile task in their efforts to pry the 21-one-year-old away from the Stadium of Light. Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, the journalist explained that the Black Cats have no interest in disrupting their squad harmony. This is mainly because the former Union Saint-Gilloise dynamo has become vital to manager Régis Le Bris’s high-energy tactical system.

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Since arriving on Wearside in July 2025, Sadiki has started 17 league matches, driving the team to an impressive ninth place. So, the club’s hierarchy is putting competitive momentum over immediate profit. They view the player as a key part of their current success.

O’Rourke also pointed out that a strong contract binds Sadiki until June 2030. This agreement gives Sunderland total leverage in any negotiation, and the Wearsiders intend to shoot down all advances. They are choosing instead to focus on staying in the top flight. United’s chase appears dead in the water for this window as Sunderland look to build, rather than dismantle, a team that are beating the odds.

“Yeah I think it’s going to be nigh-on impossible to get him out, especially in this January window.

“There’s no chance that Sunderland would even contemplate letting Sadiki go. He has been a major success for the Black Cats since his arrival from Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.

“He’s been a regular starter for Regis Le Bris and has been instrumental to Sunderland’s superb form in their first season back in the Premier League.

“Sunderland are an ambitious club. They don’t want to be losing or selling any of their top players, and he is under a long-term contract until 2030.

“So yeah, I don’t think Manchester United will have much hope of persuading Sunderland to do business for Sadiki. They want to build on their success this season.

“They’ll be looking to strengthen again in the summer and go again. So, I think with the ambitious plans that Sunderland have got, they won’t want to be losing players like Sadiki.

“I don’t think United have got much hope of landing him, definitely not in this window. And again, as I said, Sunderland will do everything they can to keep hold of the player next summer and beyond.“

A smart move for long-term growth

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 14: Noah Sadiki of Sunderland celebrates the teams first goal, an own goal, conceded by Nick Woltemade of Newcastle United (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Newcastle United at Stadium of Light on December 14, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Assessing the situation, Sunderland’s decision to block this transfer is a clever move that protects their impressive progress. Selling a core asset midway through a breakthrough season often breaks a team’s rhythm, and Le Bris clearly relies on the DR Congo man’s energy to run the midfield. By keeping him, the board sends a strong message to fans and rivals alike that they value winning games more than a quick payday.

On top of that, keeping the midfielder now helps their push for a top-half finish. His market value will likely go even higher by summer if he keeps playing well. This stance shows that the club have the confidence of an established Premier League side, refusing to give in to the usual “Big Six” pressure.