While Leeds had Sadiki on their radar, they did not submit a formal offer for the 20-year-old midfielder. According to Fabrizio Romano, Sunderland has reached an agreement with USG for an initial fee of €17m (£14.7m), with an additional €3m (£2.6m) in add-ons. Sadiki underwent medical tests with Sunderland earlier this week and is expected to sign a five-year deal, with an official announcement coming soon.
Leeds United look set to face another setback in their pursuit of midfield reinforcements as Sunderland appears poised to sign Noah Sadiki from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. Habib Diarra, a 21-year-old midfielder for RC Strasbourg, just signed a five-year contract with Sunderland for a club record £30 million. Leeds had reportedly made an offer of £22 million but decided not to raise it.
The signing of the DR Congo international is yet another potential disappointment for Leeds, who are exploring other midfield options after missing out on Diarra and now Sadiki, both of whom have opted for Sunderland, a team that could be a relegation rival. Leeds were reportedly unwilling to meet Sunderland’s asking price for Diarra, and it’s unclear how they evaluated Sadiki. Both players were prominent on the club’s shortlist of targets. (Fabrizio Romano)
In addition to Sadiki, Sunderland has also finalized a permanent deal for last season’s loan player, Enzo Le Fee, indicating strong support for manager Regis Le Bris as they prepare for their return to the Premier League. There’s also a possibility of signing free agent left-back Reinildo Mandava, who recently left Atletico Madrid after their Club World Cup exit.
With the setback regarding Sadiki, Leeds United will need to look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements, and recent reports suggest they are turning their attention to Hoffenheim’s 26-year-old German international, Anton Stach, although they will likely face competition for his signature as well.
