Sunderland break transfer fee record for Didier Ndong

Sunderland FC have broken their transfer record with the purchase of Lorient midfielder Didier Ndong in their bid to avoid relegation

Sunderland have been active players in the days leading up to deadline day and have made a big-money purchase, at least for a club of their stature, by bringing in Didier Ndong. According to Sky Sports, the fee is reported to be £13.6 million for the Gabon international.

Ndong is not the most prolific of players as he has only scored two goals in 40 appearances for Lorient since joining the club in January 2015 but he is still a young and developing player. At just 22-years-old, the midfielder has a chance to grow in a tough league with Sunderland and it will be a sort of trial by fire as they fight to avoid relegation.

The last time Sunderland broke their club transfer record with the purchase of Ghanaian international Asamoah Gyan for £13 million things did not go very well. Gyan spent a year at the Stadium of Light and scored 11 goals in 33 appearances while battling injury. He was then shipped out on loan to a club in the UAE and has not returned to the Premier League since.

Sunderland will be hoping that Ndong will not be just a flash in the pan and will provide them with some attacking verve in the final third. Manager David Moyes has plenty of players with grit and determination but he will look to Didier to pair with Adnan Januzaj out on the wings to give the club more width and creativity in attack.

The Black Cats are also reportedly interested in keeper John Ruddy to replace the injured Vito Mannone and have circled forward Steven Naismith as reinforcements in attack. Yann M’Vila is reportedly another target who Sunderland have a pre-contract with for a January move but the club is pushing to have him join now.