Sunderland closing in on signing of forward Isaac Lihadji from Lille | OneFootball

La Voix du Nord report today that Sunderland are in talks to sign Lille winger Isaac Lihadji, with negotiations at an advanced stage between the Championship side and the Frenchman.

The 20-year-old has yet to play this season for Les Dogues, having turned down several clubs including Saint-Étienne and Anderlecht last summer, and was last named in Paulo Fonseca’s squad on the opening day of the Ligue 1 campaign. Last season, he scored once and set up another four goals in 13 league games. This year, he has only appeared for the reserve team. He joined the northerners in 2020, from his formative and hometown club Marseille.

With Lihadji’s contract expiring this summer, it remains to be seen whether a move across the Channel will involve a transfer fee, with Sunderland currently the most credible destination out of a number of English clubs with which the French youth international has been in contact.