Kyril Louis-Dreyfus ‘led’ £17m Sunderland move for Eduard Spertsyan after Leeds United interest | OneFootball

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is reported to have led Sunderland’s pursuit of Armenia international Eduard Spertsyan before the playmaker signed for Al-Ahli.

Sportaran reports that the club contacted Spertsyan’s family and were ready to pay around €20 million, approximately £17 million, to land him.

Swiss agent Christoph Grafe is said to have fronted talks in May, but Sunderland did not enter direct negotiations with FC Krasnodar.

The move was said to have been derailed by factors not directly related to football, with no further detail offered. Sunderland’s salary offer was reportedly far below the package accepted in Saudi Arabia, yet this was not thought to have deterred the player.

Spertsyan, 26, was in demand after scoring 14 goals and providing 18 assists in 42 appearances for Krasnodar. He has since joined Al-Ahli for €21 million, about £18 million, on a four-year contract.

Southampton made a bid last summer but owner Sergey Galitsky blocked a sale, prompting anger from Spertsyan’s representative. Leeds United also explored a deal in the winter window, and the player later discussed missing out on both moves.

Source: Sunderland Echo