Sunderland need to dip into the market to further bolster their squad before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of September.
The Black Cats looked off the pace in their season-opening 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Saturday, as they only created 0.66 xG worth of chances in that game.
Thomas Meunier, who played the full 90 minutes of the loss, and Dayann Methalie, who only joined at the end of last week, are the only two signings made by the club so far this summer.
One area of the team that could be strengthened is the middle of the park and Noah Sadiki is not safe from being upgraded on before the window closes.
Why Sunderland may want to upgrade on Noah Sadiki
Since joining from USG for £15m last year, the DR Congo international has been a solid performer for the Black Cats, offering plenty of energy and running.
However, he ended the 2025/26 campaign without a single goal to his name and missed a presentable chance against the Tractor Boys, as he planted a header too central and made it easy for the goalkeeper to stop.
Sadiki offered plenty to the team off the ball last term, averaging 2.4 tackles and interceptions per match, but his play in possession left a bit to be desired at times.
25/26 Premier League | Noah Sadiki |
|---|---|
Appearances | 33 |
Goals | 0 |
Big chances created | 0 |
Assists | 1 |
Pass accuracy | 85% |
Pass accuracy in opposition half | 81% |
Ground duel success rate | 56% |
Aerial duel success rate | 37% |
The 21-year-old talent is not a weak link on the ball, as he only lost possession 8.3 times per game last season, yet he does not offer outstanding quality as a passer or as a threat in the final third.
That is why the Black Cats may look to bring in a different profile of midfielder who could suit games when Regis Le Bris needs more technical quality and composure in possession, rather than mobility and defensive nous.
How Sunderland can land an upgrade on Noah Sadiki
Now, it has been revealed that the club have already had their eyes on a player who would be the perfect upgrade on Sadiki at the Stadium of Light this season.
According to TEAMtalk, Sunderland are one of the sides who have emerged as a suitor for Barcelona central midfielder Marc Casado in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Black Cats have already held talks over the Spaniard’s availability this summer, and that the LaLiga champions are willing to cash in on him before next week’s deadline.
However, it adds that Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, and Brighton & Hove Albion are also in the running to sign the 22-year-old talent, and they have also been in talks about a potential deal for him.
The Spanish ace, who is valued at around £34m by Barcelona, could seal an exit from the Nou Camp after he only started 12 times in LaLiga and the Champions League last term.
In the 2024/25 campaign, though, Casado started 27 games across those two competitions and showed that he has the technical quality to offer more than Sadiki to Sunderland with the ball at his feet.
Marc Casado (24/25) | LaLiga | Champions League |
|---|---|---|
Appearances | 23 | 10 |
Starts | 20 | 7 |
Goals | 1 | 0 |
Big chances created | 3 | 1 |
Assists | 3 | 2 |
Pass accuracy | 90% | 91% |
Pass accuracy in opposition’s half | 86% | 89% |
A return of six goal contributions in 27 starts for Barcelona is an impressive haul for the Spaniard when you consider that Sadiki only managed one in 33 starts in the Premier League for the Black Cats.
Casado, who has won at least 50% of his duels in the last two LaLiga campaigns, offers physicality and technical quality in the middle of the park, providing a creative spark in possession to go along with his combative play off the ball.
The £34m-rated ace would also be an upgrade on Sadiki with the composure and reliability that he provides with his passing, having completed at least 90.2% of his passes in both of his full seasons at senior level.
Meanwhile, the Sunderland star has never completed more than 86.8% of his passes across an entire campaign at senior level and completed 85.7% of his passes for the club last term.
Casado, therefore, could arrive on Wearside as an upgrade on Sadiki by offering more reliability, composure, and quality in possession in the middle of the park, whilst also being a physical midfielder who can hold his own in duels.
That is why the board should be looking to beat their Premier League rivals to a deal for the midfielder before the deadline, because he could be the star Le Bris needs to add more balance to his midfield.
