Report: Sunderland have held talks over move for Serie A star | OneFootball

Sunderland Eye Matias Soulé as Roma Balance Sales, PSR Pressure and Summer Plans

Roma’s summer is taking shape around a familiar reality, elite ambition backed by the need to sell well. According to Corriere Dello Sport, sporting director Tony D’Amico is working across multiple tracks, with departures expected to be central to what follows in the market.

The name most relevant to Sunderland is Matias Soulé. Roma appear ready to consider a sale of the former Juventus attacker, a move described as significant in technical terms but highly useful financially. The logic is clear. A deal at around €35 million would create immediate room to manoeuvre, while also helping Roma’s position with Uefa’s financial controls.

That is where Sunderland enter the picture. Soulé’s agent, Martin Guastadisegno, is reportedly in England to discuss contract terms with both Sunderland and Fulham, each of whom have shown interest in the forward. From a Sunderland perspective, that alone is enough to sharpen attention. When negotiations reach the salary stage, it often suggests the possibility is live, even if much still depends on the structure of any agreement and on the player’s final preference.

Matias Soulé talks gather pace

Roma’s residual book value on Soulé stands at €15.5 million, which explains why they see him as one of their most useful potential exits. Selling him for significantly more would generate a healthy capital gain and provide a fund to reinvest. For Sunderland, the attraction is obvious too. Soulé is a high-upside attacker with top-level development behind him and the sort of profile clubs in England increasingly move quickly for.

There is competition, and Fulham’s presence should not be ignored. They can offer their own Premier League pull, yet Sunderland’s interest appears serious enough to be mentioned at this stage of the process. Much may now come down to whether Roma hold firm on valuation and whether Sunderland decide this is the moment for a statement attacking addition.

Roma stance on Koné remains firm

Elsewhere, Manchester United are being linked with Manu Koné after strong displays and his growing standing with France. Roma’s message, however, is said to be straightforward. A fee of €50 million would not currently be enough to persuade Gian Piero Gasperini to lose him. That is a strong public position, one that can either reflect genuine intent or a starting point in any future negotiation. Either way, interested clubs have been given a clear signal.

Transfer list stretches beyond exits

D’Amico is also exploring incoming options. Diego Moreira of Strasbourg is back on Roma’s radar, although a €40 million valuation makes that complicated. Chelsea’s buy-back rights add another layer. Alejandro Garnacho remains prominent in their thinking too, but the figures involved look substantial, while Mika Godts and Tresoldi are also being monitored closely. Any movement there will likely depend on further sales, with Dovbyk’s situation another factor in how aggressively Roma can act.

Our View

As a Sunderland supporter, this is exactly the sort of report that gets the pulse racing. Soulé feels like the kind of signing that would tell everyone the club mean business. He is young, technically gifted, carries real pedigree and looks like a player who could light up big matches. If his camp is already in England speaking to Sunderland, then fans will naturally believe there is something serious going on.

The exciting part is the ambition behind it. Sunderland being mentioned alongside clubs chasing this level of talent says plenty about where the project could be heading. Supporters always dream about players who can change games in a flash, and Soulé sounds like one of those. He would bring flair, unpredictability and genuine quality in the final third.

Of course, there is always a financial line to consider, and no one wants the club to act recklessly. Even so, these are the moments when belief grows. If Sunderland can convince a player like Soulé, it sends a message to the rest of the league, to future targets and to the fanbase itself. It would feel bold, modern and full of intent. For now, it is one to watch closely, and one that supporters will follow with real excitement.

Source: Corriere Dello Sport