M’Bengue, ‘Black Cats want me’

Sunderland have been linked with Senegalese international left back Cheikh M’Bengue. However, it seems the player himself has made the connection. He’s had this to say:

“Many clubs have approached me. Saint-Etienne asked me. There is also Sunderland, clubs in Turkey, Newcastle. I will leave it a little time but not too much.”

Is this just a case of the former Stade Rennais defender trying to generate interest in his own services, or have the clubs M’Bengue named checked made genuine approaches?

Well, if the statement is true, as a free agent it would be a deal that would seem to carry little to no risk for Sunderland. And, while the left back position probably isn’t a priority for Sam Allardyce this summer, given Patrick Van Aanholt’s end of season form, quality fullbacks are still rather a rare breed within the Sunderland squad.

We know that DeAndre Yedlin has now returned to parent club Tottenham after a successful loan spell on Wearside and Black Cat outcast right back Adam Matthews spent time at Bristol City. Former Arsenal fullback Emmanuel Eboue, signed by Allardyce to add experience and competition, was also let go given his one-year ban imposed by FIFA.

The quality tools currently at the disposal of Big Sam in these areas are certainly few. Therefore, it’s likely Van Aanholt, with his new contract freshly signed, will start the season as number one choice in the left back spot. Given his form in the latter half the season it’s nothing other than deserved, but the beginning of the season under then head coach Dick Advocaat was a different story.

I was very critical of the Dutch defender and regularly pointed the finger of blame in his direction. The Black Cats conceded goal after goal during those early months of the campaign and a great number can be attributed to Van Aanholt’s poor, lacklustre positioning. No, Sunderland’s number 3 just didn’t sniff out the danger early enough for me and at the highest level it wasn’t acceptable.

Big Sam arrived and his man management seemed to help Van Aanholt eventually turn a corner. In fact he was one of Sunderland’s star performers towards the end of the season and it will be this form that everyone will be hoping is carried into the forthcoming campaign.

There can be no guarantees in football though. Indeed, Sunderland have been caught out conducting business in this reactionary way before. Santiago Vergini seemed to become a solid defender under Advocaat during those last few games the season before last only to return to his previous unreliable form once a permanent deal was signed.

This may feel like a cautious approach for some. Perhaps money can be spent in other areas, which would have more of an immediate impact. However, given the circumstances, even if M’Bengue finds himself somewhere other than Wearside, I would prefer Allardyce to add another fullback or two to his squad - both left and right if finances can stretch that far. It’s just common sense to ensure that there is some depth in an area that has become a weakness for the Black Cats in recent times.