Fiorentina ‘to open talks’ over Matias Soule amid Sunderland and Villa interest | OneFootball

Sunderland and Aston Villa face fresh competition for Roma winger Matias Soule, with TuttoMercatoWeb reporting that Fiorentina are looking to open talks over a deal.

The report adds that Viola chiefs plan to approach Roma once they have an agreement with the player and his representatives. Soule’s salary, around €2.5m per year, is described as high for Fiorentina but achievable. Further talks are said to be imminent, and the Argentine is understood to prefer a move abroad, with the Premier League his aim, although Roma have not received any official approaches from England.

Sunderland have made one summer signing, Belgium international Thomas Meunier on a two-year deal after leaving Lille. Regis Le Bris wants further reinforcements as he prepares for a landmark season, having guided the club to a seventh-placed Premier League finish and Europa League qualification.

The Europa League’s league phase, which features Juventus, Marseille and AC Milan, will add at least eight fixtures to Sunderland’s schedule. Le Bris has urged patience as the club awaits news of a second arrival.

The head coach has said recruitment is more targeted than last summer, when 14 players arrived, and that this window could bring around six or seven additions. With the market moving slowly, he would prefer to wait for the right options rather than rush.

Sunderland have been linked with Leicester defender Ben Nelson and Bodø/Glimt forward Jens Petter Hauge, with wide areas a priority over the next seven weeks. Soule, an Argentina Under-23 international, has 12 goals and 13 assists in 81 games since joining Roma from Juventus in summer 2024, and he has admirers in Italy, England and the Saudi Arabian Pro League.

Source: Sunderland Echo