Simon Adingra to return after Monaco pass as FC Porto eye Eliezer Mayenda | OneFootball

Simon Adingra will return to Sunderland for pre-season after Monaco chose not to activate their option to buy. Interest is also growing in striker Eliezer Mayenda, with Porto among the clubs in the frame.

Monaco confirmed the end of his half-season loan on Monday. The club said in a statement he made 17 appearances, three goals and two assists, and wished him well for the World Cup with Ivory Coast.

He began brightly and featured regularly, but patchy form and Monaco’s failure to reach the Champions League are thought to have shaped the call. Taking the option would have recouped a significant portion of last summer’s £18 million paid to Brighton.

On his return, Régis Le Bris will have four left wingers. Romaine Mundle is expected to be fit for the start of pre-season after a hamstring issue, though his future, like Adingra’s, remains uncertain.

Sunderland must now decide whether to reintegrate Adingra or seek a move for him, either on loan or permanently.

Porto have registered interest in Mayenda, though talk of a deal being close was quickly downplayed in Portugal. Several clubs remain in the race, with Stade Rennais holding initial talks. Mayenda is thought to favour a permanent exit for more minutes, which could be limited given Brian Brobbey’s form. Sunderland are unlikely to block a sale and see scope for a major profit, in cash and SCR terms, after paying just under £one million in 2023.

Source: Sunderland Echo