Sunderland ‘preparing bid’ for cut-price Algeria international Yacine Titraoui | OneFootball

Sunderland are preparing a bid for Royal Charleroi midfielder Yacine Titraoui, according to MediaFoot, which reports the club have contacted the 22-year-old’s agent and aim to move in the coming weeks.

Sunderland have tracked Titraoui across the last two windows without a deal, the five-cap Algeria international remaining in Charleroi. He has 69 appearances in all competitions, with six goals and four assists.

This season he has four goals and two assists in 35 domestic games. Charleroi reached the Croky Cup semi-finals and qualified for the UEFA Conference League play-off group.

Competition looks strong, with Marseille heavily linked and Premier League rivals Leeds United and Nottingham Forest also credited with interest. Titraoui featured in Algeria’s recent friendlies, a 7-0 win over Guatemala and a 0-0 draw with Uruguay.

Should he arrive at the Stadium of Light, he would add to Regis Le Bris’s busy midfield of Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki, Enzo Le Fee and Habib Diarra.

Best used as a shield in front of the back four, he averages 1.4 interceptions and 1.9 tackles per 90 in the Pro League. He also averages 41 passes per 90, a team high at Charleroi, and has created 27 chances. He would likely be viewed as competition and a long-term replacement for Xhaka, with a valuation in February as low as £4.25m.

Source: Sunderland Echo