Sunderland ‘to monitor’ Christ Inao Oulaï as Arne Engels ‘to decide’ future soon | OneFootball

Sunderland are reportedly facing competition from Fulham and Brentford for an Ivory Coast international, with links to Trabzonspor’s Christ Inao Oulaï and Celtic playmaker Arne Engels emerging.

225Foot reports Sunderland are monitoring Oulaï after a standout first season with the Turkish Super Lig club. The 20-year-old posted two goals and four assists in 31 games as Trabzonspor finished third behind Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. He is in Ivory Coast’s World Cup squad and hopes to win a 12th cap against Curacao on Thursday night.

The Daily Record claims Engels has changed agents and informed Celtic he will decide his future before pre-season begins. The 22-year-old joined from German club Augsberg in summer 2024 for a reported £11m and has 17 goals and 21 assists in 98 appearances, winning two Premiership titles plus the Scottish Cup and League Cup.

Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Fulham have shown interest in the four-times capped Belgium international, while Napoli, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are also believed to have tracked him.

Regis Le Bris is strengthening for Sunderland’s first Europa League campaign after a seventh-place finish in their Premier League return. Two weeks into the window, no signings have arrived, though several targets are being assessed.

During his Lorient tenure, Le Bris was offered former Newcastle winger Florian Thauvin on a free after his exit from Tigres UANL. He is said to have declined, believing the France international was burnt out.

Source: Sunderland Echo