Sunderland reached a £19.5m agreement with Club Brugge for Talbi over the weekend, with the winger now set to complete his medical and rubber stamp his move to the Stadium of Light.
Confirmation of the signing of Reinildo is also imminent, with the former Atletico Madrid full-back said to be undergoing his medical in Madrid today. The 31-year-old will sign a two-year deal.
The duo will follow Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki through the door at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland making a swift start to the summer window with some eye-catching business.
They’ve fought off fierce competition for all their signings, with Diarra, Sadiki and Reinildo all wanted by Leeds United this summer. Talbi was of interest to several European clubs, including Dortmund, Napoli and Atletico Madrid.
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With the move to Sunderland nearing completion, Talbi – who will sign a five-year deal- was left out of the Club Brugge squad for their friendly against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.
Club Brugge have identified Southampton’s winger Samuel Edozie as a replacement for Talbi, who has established himself as one of the most exciting talents in Belgian football and played 11 times in the Champions League last season, scoring twice.
Talbi is comfortable playing on either wing and will boost Regis Le Bris’ options on the flanks, where competition was required. Patrick Roberts and Romaine Mundle are the only senior wingers currently on Sunderland’s books, with Adil Aouchiche having left for Aberdeen and Abdoullah Ba available for transfer this summer.
Reinildo will bring vast experience, having played more than 100 times for Atletico Madrid during his three-year spell in the Spanish capital.
Adding competition for Dennis Cirkin was identified as a key requirement this summer, though the Mozambique international can also play further forward on the left and at centre-back.
Sunderland hope Talbi and Reinildo are swiftly followed by more new arrivals, with officials continuing to pursue a number of other deals.
Talks with Chelsea continue to take place over Djorde Petrovic, though Sunderland do have other potential goalkeeper options they’ll turn to if they fail to land the in-demand 25-year-old.
Further adding to the attack is also a priority, with Sassuolo winger Armand Lauriente one of several targets.
Reports in France over the weekend claimed the Black Cats have opened talks with the Italian club. The 26-year-old Frenchman scored 18 goals and provided six assists in 33 appearances in the Italian second tier last season.
Fresh reports in Spain have linked Sunderland with an audacious move for Real Madrid forward Gonzalo García, while Lens midfielder Neil El Aynaoui is another reported target.
Sunderland’s players reported in at the Academy of Light on Monday morning for the start of their first full week of pre-season ahead of the friendlies against South Shields and Gateshead on Saturday. Le Bris plans to split his first team squad over the two games.
