Sunderland quickly pulled off a deal to sign Younes Kaboul this week and now they have been linked with another Tottenham star.
Kristan Heneage – a journalist with very strong links in the North East – has claimed that Sunderland are now exploring the possibility of signing Mousa Dembele.
Meanwhile, I understand #SAFC are interested in trying to take Moussa Dembele from Spurs. Discussions are at an early stage.
— Kristan Heneage (@KHeneage) July 18, 2015
I do think Dembele to #SAFC is achievable. He knows Advocaat (like Lens), he just needs to be sold on the project.
— Kristan Heneage (@KHeneage) July 18, 2015
As Heneage mentions, Dembele worked under the Sunderland boss Advocaat at AZ. The big question is whether Spurs would want to sell him and for how much.
Dembele probably falls into the category of player who Mauricio Pochettino wouldn’t mind having in his squad but would happily dispense with if the price was right. Having been signed for £15m from Fulham, it’s unlikely that the club would sell him cheap.
The Belgian tends to be a player who divides the fans. Undoubtedly very skilful, Dembele nevertheless tends to frustrate and lacks an end product. Would you let him go if the price was right?
Don’t let the door hit you on the way OUT
He can play a bit and was a good signing, underlined just before he signed for Spurs by his performance for Fulham against a functioning and successful Manchester United led by Ferguson. Spurs should employ him in all competitions, on condition that he develops more confidence in his abilities.