Sky Sports: Sunderland in ‘Advanced Talks’ to Sign £18m Ligue 1 Star
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Sky Sports: Sunderland in ‘Advanced Talks’ to Sign £18m Ligue 1 Star | OneFootball
Sunderland have opened talks with French side OGC Nice over the signing of Marcin Bulka. The 25-year-old Polish international has been identified by the Black Cats as a key target to challenge Anthony Patterson for the No.1 shirt. Sky Sports notes that the club are “looking to strengthen the spine of their team,” and bringing in Bulka would do just that. The Polish keeper has “rebuffed a renewal” from Nice, effectively putting the Ligue 1 side in a position where selling him now may be their best option. Bulka has a blend of European experience and physical presence that Premier League clubs often demand from their shot-stoppers. At £18 million, it’s certainly not a budget deal, but it reflects both the ambition of the club and the pressing need to ensure they don’t make the common mistake of underinvesting upon promotion. It remains to be seen whether the deal gets over the line, but if Sunderland are to avoid becoming another yo-yo club, signings like this could prove critical.
Fresh from their dramatic 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the Championship Play-Off Final, Sunderland are wasting no time preparing for life back in the Premier League. According to Sky Sports News‘ Keith Downie, the club have opened talks with French side OGC Nice over the signing of Marcin Bulka, signalling clear intent to strengthen their squad in key areas.
The 25-year-old Polish international has been identified by the Black Cats as a key target to challenge Anthony Patterson for the No.1 shirt. Towering at 6ft5in, Bulka’s profile certainly fits the bill for a Premier League goalkeeper, and with only one year left on his contract, Sunderland appear poised to make a shrewd move.
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“Talks surround a deal in the region of £18m, but no agreement is in place between the two clubs at this stage,” Sky Sports reported.
Photo: IMAGO
Prioritising Premier League Readiness
It is clear that Sunderland’s recruitment strategy has shifted since their Wembley triumph. With the top flight looming, the need to bolster the core of the squad is more urgent than ever. Sky Sports notes that the club are “looking to strengthen the spine of their team,” and bringing in Bulka would do just that.
There’s a tactical intelligence behind this move. While Patterson has impressed during Sunderland’s promotion campaign, adding experienced top-flight competition between the posts could be vital to their survival ambitions. Bulka, who previously worked with soon-to-be-confirmed Sporting Director Florent Ghisolfi at Nice, has a blend of European experience and physical presence that Premier League clubs often demand from their shot-stoppers.
Contract Situation Presents Opportunity
What adds intrigue to this transfer is Bulka’s contract situation. The Polish keeper has “rebuffed a renewal” from Nice, effectively putting the Ligue 1 side in a position where selling him now may be their best option.
From Sunderland’s perspective, it could be a calculated move to land a high-potential player at a reasonable fee. At £18 million, it’s certainly not a budget deal, but it reflects both the ambition of the club and the pressing need to ensure they don’t make the common mistake of underinvesting upon promotion.
Familiar Faces and Strategic Moves
Bulka’s previous relationship with Ghisolfi, who has yet to be officially unveiled by Sunderland, adds another layer to this developing story. Ghisolfi is expected to bring a data-driven, continental approach to recruitment, and this potential signing could be a sign of what’s to come. That Ghisolfi and Bulka have worked together before suggests trust and mutual understanding — qualities that can fast-track adaptation in a new environment.
“Bulka, a Polish international, has just a year left on his contract at Nice and has rebuffed a renewal.”
It remains to be seen whether the deal gets over the line, but if Sunderland are to avoid becoming another yo-yo club, signings like this could prove critical.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
Let’s be honest, it still feels surreal. We’re back in the Premier League! And not even a month later, we’re hearing that Sunderland are negotiating an £18 million deal for a Polish international goalkeeper from Nice. If you’d told me this a year ago, I’d have laughed you out of the pub.
The fact that we’re going for someone like Bulka — someone with height, experience and European pedigree — shows that this club isn’t just happy to be back. We’re here to compete. It’s also a massive show of ambition that we’re not resting on our laurels with Patterson. He’s been brilliant, but competition breeds excellence, and Bulka coming in could push him even further.
From the outside looking in, £18m might raise eyebrows. But with the money sloshing around the top tier and considering the importance of a reliable keeper, it might end up looking like a bargain. If we pull this off, it’ll be a serious statement to the rest of the league — Sunderland are not just back, they’re building something.
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Liverpool remain interested in Anthony Gordon – Paper Talk
Manchester United hope to reveal their coaching staff for next season in the next few days. West Ham have approached Metz about signing the Georgia striker Georges Mikautadze. Chelsea have signed Argentina talent Aaron Anselmino but will not see him play for a while as he is remaining at Boca Juniors on loan for at least a season. Bologna are hoping to spark a Premier League bidding war for defender Riccardo Calafiori. Arsenal are ready to enter the race to sign Lille star Jonathan David. Premier League clubs are on standby to secure a cut-price deal with Galatasaray for former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha. Promoted sides Southampton and Ipswich are going head-to-head to try and sign Sheffield United striker Ben Brereton-Diaz. Manchester United might have trouble getting rid of Casemiro this summer because the Brazil midfielder would cost a small fortune to buy out of his contract. Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe can go for £25m but is in no rush to leave.
THE OBSERVER
Liverpool remain interested in signing Anthony Gordon despite talks over a deal for the Newcastle winger breaking down this week.
West Ham have approached Metz about signing the Georgia striker Georges Mikautadze.
THE SUNDAY TIMES
Newcastle have tried to sell three players over the past week. Including the England winger Anthony Gordon, amid fears they could face a points deduction for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.
Image: Newcastle have been trying to offload Anthony Gordon
INDEPENDENT
Manchester United hope to reveal their coaching staff for next season in the next few days as positive discussions continue with manager Erik ten Hag about a new deal.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson has played down concern about her fitness ahead of this summer’s Olympics in Paris.
MAIL ON SUNDAY
Crystal Palace will be owed a percentage of Lyon defender Jake O’Brien’s next move amid serious Premier League interest in the Republic of Ireland defender.
Security staff around the England partners and families have been told to look out for flying beer cups – as part of plans to ensure there is no repeat of the soaking some suffered in Cologne.
Chelsea have signed Argentina talent Aaron Anselmino but will not see him play for a while as he is remaining at Boca Juniors on loan for at least a season.
SUNDAY MIRROR
Bayern Munich are set to lodge their final offer for Fulham star Joao Palhinha.
Manchester United have stepped up talks for three of INEOS’ top simmer transfer targets as Everton continue to play hardball over Jarrad Branthwaite.
Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane was in Italy on Saturday for talks with Serie A new boys Como.
Bologna are hoping to spark a Premier League bidding war for defender Riccardo Calafiori as they do not want to sell the £40m rated man to a Serie A rival.
DAILY STAR SUNDAY
Unsettled Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich is hell-bent on moving to the Premier League with champions Manchester City as he wants a reunion with Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal are ready to enter the race to sign Lille star Jonathan David.
Liverpool will face competition from two Premier League rivals for Napoli striker Khvicha Kvaratshkeila, but Napoli are determined not to sell the Georgia star.Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique is ready to green light a deal which would see Manchester United sign midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
Fulham boss Marco Silva is facing a mass exodus this summer with Willian, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Joao Palhinha all set to join Tosin in leaving Craven Cottage.
Brighton are aiming to seal a deal this week for Dutch midfielder Mats Wieffer after getting closer to Feyenoord’s £30m valuation.
Premier League clubs are on standby to secure a cut-price deal with Galatasaray for former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha.
Promoted sides Southampton and Ipswich are going head-to-head to try and sign Sheffield United striker Ben Brereton-Diaz
Southampton hope to beat south coast rivals Brighton to the signing of AZ Alkmaar right-back Yukinari Sugawara.
SUN ON SUNDAY
Chelsea have discussed including Nicolas Jackson as part of any deal for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.
Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe can go for £25m but is in no rush to leave.
Image: Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe has been linked with a move away
Newcastle have their sights on young American keeper Gavin Beavers ahead of a surprise move.
Manchester United might have trouble getting rid of Casemiro this summer because the Brazil midfielder would cost a small fortune to buy out of his contract.
David Moyes is keen to remain in club management despite loud calls for him to replace Steve Clarke as Scotland boss
Southampton are backing away from a deal to sign winger Jack Clarke because Sunderland want £18m for him.
Nottingham Forest are keen on adding experienced Sheffield United defender John Egan to their squad this summer – he will be a free agent but the Blades would also like him back.
Crystal Palace have inserted a 15 per cent sell-on fee into their deal with Bayern Munich for Michael Olise and are eyeing up free agent Ryan Sessegnon.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna knows exactly what characteristics he wants from the six major summer signings he would like to make.
Relegated Luton are keen on loaning two players from Crystal Palace – midfielder David Ozoh and winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Manchester City want James McAtee to sign a contract extension before deciding where he goes on loan next season, with sister club Girona a possible destination
Leicester City have held talks to sign Paraguay winger Ramon Sosa from Argentinian side Talleres.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is having to run potential new signings past the club’s prospective new American owners.
Jonny Bairstow is facing up to the prospect of his England Test career being over with his place in the squad to face the West Indies in question.
SUNDAY EXPRESS
The Belgian FA has issued an apology after sharing a video to their official social media channels in which Amadou Onana chants about tackling Kylian Mbappe’s shin.
Andy Murray has revealed he is willing to take a “risk” to play a final Wimbledon despite confessing he still cannot yet “move properly”.
THE ATHLETIC
Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign left-back Caleb Wiley from Atlanta United.
SUNDAY MAIL
Hibs are eyeing Ross County striker Simon Murray.
Harry McKirdy has been told to grab his fresh Hibs chance with both hands.
The 2024 summer transfer window in the Premier League and Scottish Premiership is officially open.
The window will close on August 30 at 11pm UK time in England and at 11.30pm in Scotland.
The Premier League and Scottish Premiership brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.