Sunderland interested in intriguing signing – Really exciting and/or controversial

Sunderland have missed out on Sassuolo’s Armand Lauriente but the Black Cats are now looking at an intriguing alternative to improve their attack.

Tuttomercatoweb report the player in question is Nicolo Zaniolo, who has returned to Galatasaray after frustrating loan spells at Fiorentina and Atalanta last season.

The outlet reports Sunderland are one of the clubs interested in the Italian, who also appeals to PSV Eindhoven, Villarreal and Real Oviedo. Multiple clubs in Serie A have also made initial contact.

The 26-year-old is said to have impressed during pre-season training with Galatasaray and even though manager Okan Buruk is open to keeping him, an exit remains a possibility.

The winger’s recent record is not promising at all. He could never consistently break into the first-team at Fiorentina and Atalanta, and his stint at AS Roma ended in a chaotic breakdown in relationship between the two parties.

Giallorossi supporters protested against the player, who was once seen as a future star in Italian football before a serious knee injury ruined his progress. Fast forward to now, he is viewed as a bit of a bad boy in the game, and earlier this year there were claims of a physical altercation in the dressing room.

Still, despite all that, Zaniolo is an entertaining player and character and perhaps the love of the Sunderland faithful is just what he needs.