SUNDERLAND SET TO SIGN HABIB DIARRA FOR CLUB-RECORD FEE

Sunderland are set to sign midfielder Habib Diarra from Strasbourg in a club-record transfer. Sources, speaking on the basis of anonymity to protect relationships, say the fee will represent a record incoming for Sunderland and a club-high sale for Strasbourg.
The 21-year-old has spent the entirety of his professional career at the Ligue 1 club, with whom he scored 10 goals across 99 first-team appearances.
The Senegal international, who scored in his nation’s 3-1 friendly win over England earlier this month, is set to become Sunderland’s most expensive ever signing after the £20m arrival of Enzo Le Fee from Roma earlier this summer following a successful loan spell.
The midfielder had also attracted from Sunderland’s fellow newly-promoted rivals Leeds United, who The Athletic reported had lodged a bid of a bid of €26m earlier in June.
Diarra’s arrival comes after Sunderland sold midfielder Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth up to €38m. Sunderland are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2017 having defeated Sheffield United in the promotion play-off final.