With Chemsdine Talbi set to be confirmed as the Black Cats’ fifth summer signing later today, the club’s recruitment drive continues to gather pace.
However, while recruiting a new goalkeeper remains a key priority, the club’s early efforts to sign a new shot-stopper have proved unsuccessful.
A move for Marcin Bulka broke down when Saudi side FC Neom offered the Poland international a reported £160,000-a-week to move to the Middle East, while an initial round of talks with Chelsea over Petrovic failed to result in a deal being agreed.
Sunderland’s recruitment team were always mindful of likely competition for Petrovic, who spent last season on loan in the French top-flight with Strasbourg.
Bournemouth need a new first-choice goalkeeper after last season’s number one, Kepa Arrizabalaga, returned to his parent club, Chelsea, before moving on to Arsenal. The Cherries’ number two, Mark Travers, has also been strongly linked with a summer move to Everton.
Bournemouth officials have tabled a formal bid for Petrovic in the last 24 hours, and while it has not yet been accepted at Stamford Bridge, the expectation is that a deal will be finalised soon. Petrovic is understood to be keen on a move to the Vitality Stadium, with his personal terms not expected to present any problems.
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Sunderland have alternative goalkeeping targets they can turn to, but sources claim there could now be a pause while the Stadium of Light hierarchy consider whether to pursue a permanent addition, who would arrive with an expectation of replacing Anthony Patterson, or turn to a loan option, who would be more of a competitor for last season’s number one.
Weekend reports linked Sunderland with a possible move for Sam Johnstone, who is currently the fourth-choice goalkeeper at Wolves.
Clearly, signing 32-year-old Johnstone on a season-long loan is a completely different type of transfer to shelling out an eight-figure fee for either Bulka or Petrovic, and Black Cats chiefs are currently pondering how much of their remaining transfer budget should be spent on a goalkeeper.
While Sunderland have strengthened in a number of different positions already this summer, they remain in the market for a new forward, with all of their preferred options likely to prove expensive.
The Black Cats have held exploratory talks over the likes of Armand Lauriente, Matthis Abline and Georges Mikautadze, but feel they are being quoted inflated fees for all the attackers currently on their wanted list.
If they end up paying more than initially anticipated in order to recruit a forward capable of hitting the ground running in the Premier League next season, that could have a knock-on impact on the funds available to sign a goalkeeper.
While Sunderland sanctioned the departure of Nathan Bishop to AFC Wimbledon earlier this summer, they still have Simon Moore, Blondy Nna Noukeu and Matty Young on their books as well as Patterson.
