Sunderland interested in £2.5m transfer for former Championship star Carlos Corberan labelled ‘excellent’

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Sunderland are reportedly interested in a former Championship defender ahead of the club’s return to Premier League football.

Black Cats owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has set the transfer budget at around £100m this summer, following Sunderland’s return to the Premier League, and the pressure is on the club’s transfer department to bring the squad up to top flight standard.

Defensive reinforcements are high on the priority list of the Sunderland recruitment team amid the summer transfer window.

Sunderland have been linked with a £20m move for Wilfried Singo, who the Black Cats could have the upper hand in signing, given the connections with hierarchical figure Juan Sartori.

Incomings are one of the top tasks on Regis Le Bris’ summer to-do list, and with Enzo Le Fee Sunderland’s first summer signing after his initial loan move, the next potential incoming target has been identified.

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Sunderland interested in former West Brom defender Cedric Kipre

Sunderland are initially prioritising two key positions, full-back and wingers, as the summer transfer window opens for business.

Centre-back is another role where the Black Cats must add quality, with Bournemouth loanee Chris Mepham’s future at Sunderland uncertain following his impressive season on Wearside, as Chris Wilder faces an “obvious snag” in targeting him.

Manchester City centre-back Callum Doyle has been recommended as the next Sunderland signing, and could be joined alongside a recently relegated defender.

According to reports in Africa Foot, former West Brom defender Cedric Kipre is on the radar of Sunderland’s transfer team, with the Black Cats “showing particular interest” in the Reims defender.

Following his departure from West Brom last summer on a free transfer, 28-year-old Kipre featured 28 times in Ligue 1 for Reims, as his side suffered relegation to the French second tier this season.

Kipre remains under contract at Reims until 2027, but their demotion to Ligue 2 could spell several departures among their top talents, which has led to Sunderland considering the Ivorian international a “serious option” in the summer window.

Given Reims’ relegation and Kipre’s estimated transfer value (per transfermarkt.com) tallied at £2.5m, the financial aspect of the deal would be manageable for Sunderland.

Former Baggies defender Kipre would arrive on Wearside with 174 second tier appearances under his belt, and a positive appraisal from former West Brom boss Carlos Corberan.

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Carlos Corberan has already told Sunderland why they should sign Cedric Kipre

After impressing at Wigan Athletic, Kipre joined West Brom in 2020 and went on to make 67 appearances during his stint at the Hawthorns.

Former Baggies boss, now Valencia manager, Carlos Corberan showered Kipre with praise after he impressed consistently in the 23/24 Championship campaign, in an impressive response to his Cardiff City loan spell.

Via the Express and Star, Corberan said of Kipre: “He is showing well he is stable, he is showing consistency and stability in his performances.

“His level of concentration, focus and commitment with his performances have been excellent. The challenge is to keep this level, to try to be the best he can be with himself.

“If he commits with this, learn from mistakes, then he is a more proactive player, he will reduce mistakes and compete well because he has very good skills.

“He had the physical availability to play many games in a row, which is necessary in the Championship.”

Kipre’s experience, defensive abilities, and the relegation of Reims open the door for Sunderland to make a move for the central defender. At £2.5m, his arrival on Wearside would be stellar business.