Sunderland are monitoring Lille defender Adama Soumaoro ahead of a possible move in the summer, according to the Daily Mail.
Soumaoro, 23, has impressed at the French side this season and is capable of playing anywhere across the back four – although he is a centre-half by trade.
Sam Allardyce is looking for defensive reinforcements to bolster the Black Cats ageing back line, as well as provide cover for the injury woes that have plagued the team all season.
John O’Shea is out of contract at the end of next season and is not getting any younger, whilst his long-term teammate Wes Brown will almost certainly retire at the end of the season. Younes Kaboul is well known to be injury prone, as is Jan Kirchhoff. The latter pair are both ruled out for this weekend’s game against West Ham.
YouTube: But Adama SOUMAORO (59′) / LOSC – SM Caen (1-0) – / 2015-16
Soumaoro has made 21 appearances for Lille so far this season, scoring twice. He is contracted until 2019. Coupling this with his age means that Allardyce will have to stump up a hefty fee to sign the defender, who has dual citizenship for France and Mali.
