Sunderland ‘linked’ with World Cup star as Arne Engels ‘to decide’ future | OneFootball

Sunderland are stepping up plans to reinforce midfield options before the new Premier League season and their first venture into the Europa League. Two weeks into the summer window, they have yet to make a signing.

225Foot reports that the Black Cats are monitoring Trabzonspor’s Christ Inao Oulaï, with Fulham and Brentford also interested. The 20-year-old impressed in his first season in the Turkish Super Lig, scoring two goals and adding four assists in 31 appearances as Trabzonspor finished third behind Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

Oulaï is in the Ivory Coast squad for the World Cup finals and hopes to win his 12th cap against Curacao in Thursday night’s final group game.

The Daily Record claims Sunderland have also been credited with an interest in Celtic and Belgium midfielder Arne Engels, who has changed agents and plans to decide his future before pre-season. The 22-year-old joined from Augsberg in 2024 for a reported £11m and has 17 goals and 21 assists in 98 Celtic appearances, winning two Premiership titles plus the Scottish Cup and League Cup. The report adds that Nottingham Forest and Fulham are keen, while Napoli, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund have monitored the four-cap international.

Meanwhile, a report in France suggested Regis Le Bris declined the chance to sign former Newcastle winger Florian Thauvin for Lorient after his Tigres UANL exit on a free, believing the player was burnt out. Le Bris had worked in the academy and led the B team before taking the first team job four years ago.

Source: Sunderland Echo