Guiu is set to become Sunderland’s ninth signing of the summer after Chelsea agreed the terms of a season-long loan deal on Wearside. The Black Cats are paying a loan fee for the 19-year-old, and will fund all of the forward’s wages, with Guiu’s switch set to be a straight loan without a clause for a possible permanent deal.
Sunderland were also touted as potential suitors for Openda, but Le Bris insists there is no substance to reports linking the club with the Leipzig striker.
“I think that this is fake news,” said the Black Cats boss, whose side continued their pre-season preparations with a 1-0 home defeat to Spanish side Real Betis this afternoon. “It’s possible for this with social media. Nothing at the minute.”
Le Bris trimmed his squad for the Real Betis game, having made a decision on some of the players who had been battling for a place in his matchday group.
Neither Milan Aleksic nor Ahmed Abdullahi were included in the squad at the Stadium of Light, and the pair are both set to leave on loan before the end of the month. Aleksic has previously been linked with a possible loan move to Serbian side Partizan Belgrade.
Jenson Seelt was not involved against Real Betis because of a minor injury issue, with summer signing Reinildo playing in his place at the heart of the back four, but the Dutchman could also be leaving on loan in the next couple of weeks.
NEC Nijmegen, who sold goalkeeper Robin Roefs to Sunderland last week, are understood to have expressed an interest in signing Seelt on a season-long loan deal.
“Jenson had a little injury in training on Friday, it’s nothing serious but it was better just to protect him today,” said Le Bris. “The others, we are improving the squad, so for the others, this will have consequences for them. It’s fair to say that we’ll find new solutions for them for the season ahead.”
Roefs, Reinildo and Granit Xhaka all made their first Sunderland appearances against Real Betis, and while the Black Cats might have been beaten thanks to a 75th-minute header from substitute Aitor Ruibal, Le Bris was satisfied with some aspects of his side’s play.
“I think that we added new building blocks today with a bit more experience in the team,” said Le Bris. “It was clear in our mind that we needed balance in the squad, so we started our recruitment with many young players and it was obvious that we needed some maturity.
“We showed composure and confidence in our build-up play, in the first half it was balanced because we had a level of control. In the second half, the rhythm dropped and it was more like a friendly game.
“I thought we had opportunities, many touches in the opposition box. So, it’s always about the final bit and we know we have to improve.
“With a new group in pre-season, it’s always about layers. We start from the back, then a bit higher, then a bit higher again. So, now it’s a question again of this finishing zone, which is the most difficult. It’s about creating options for our wingers and strikers, and we’ll improve this soon… I hope!”
Sunderland complete their pre-season programme with a double-header next weekend. The Black Cats travel to Germany to take on Augsburg on Saturday before returning to England to host Spanish side Rayo Vallecano at the Stadium of Light on Sunday teatime.
