{"id":49086,"date":"2026-06-23T08:19:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:19:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/23\/sunderland-open-approach-to-signing-world-cup-star-after-extensive-scouting-mission\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T08:19:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:19:16","slug":"sunderland-open-approach-to-signing-world-cup-star-after-extensive-scouting-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/23\/sunderland-open-approach-to-signing-world-cup-star-after-extensive-scouting-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunderland open approach to signing World Cup star after extensive scouting mission"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/23\/sunderland-open-approach-to-signing-world-cup-star-after-extensive-scouting-mission\/#Better_than_Diarra_Sunderland_seek_to_sign_25m_midfielder\" >Better than Diarra: Sunderland seek to sign \u00a325m midfielder<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/23\/sunderland-open-approach-to-signing-world-cup-star-after-extensive-scouting-mission\/#Sunderland_begin_approach_to_sign_World_Cup_star\" >Sunderland begin approach to sign World Cup star<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/23\/sunderland-open-approach-to-signing-world-cup-star-after-extensive-scouting-mission\/#Sunderland_prepare_to_sign_star_player_as_club_face_inevitable_26m_sale\" >Sunderland prepare to sign star player as club face inevitable \u00a326m sale<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>With the Europa League awaiting them next season, Sunderland have the chance to take advantage of their new-found status in this summer&#8217;s transfer window and be more ambitious than ever.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>They had already grabbed the headlines a year ago by bringing in the likes of Granit Xhaka. This was the kind of spending newly promoted teams rarely enjoy, but the Black Cats did not return to the top flight simply to join.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                              \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"better-than-diarra-sunderland-pursuing-deal-for-engels\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<p>                        <\/p>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Better_than_Diarra_Sunderland_seek_to_sign_25m_midfielder\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tBetter than Diarra: Sunderland seek to sign \u00a325m midfielder<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Sunderland are reportedly eyeing a star player who would be a better option than Khabib Diarra in midfield.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The cure for potential second season syndrome may again be costly. It would be a dramatic loss if the people of Wearside were to be struck by the deadly disease, but it is still unlikely that they will take the chance.<\/p>\n<p>Summer is officially starting and I already have some goals in mind. The Black Cats are reportedly eyeing players such as Arne Engels, who is set to leave Celtic in the coming months.<\/p>\n<p>The \u00a325m midfielder would be a great addition alongside Xhaka and the focus this summer is likely to be on strengthening Regis Le Bris in the middle of the park.<\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-vignette\">\n<div class=\"qz\">\n<div class=\"qz-content\">\n<div id=\"qend\">\n<p>you scored<\/p>\n<p>out of 20<\/p>\n<p>      <button class=\"e-replay\" onclick=\"startQuiz()\">\u21a9 Play again<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sunderland-launch-approach-to-sign-world-cup-star\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sunderland_begin_approach_to_sign_World_Cup_star\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Sunderland begin approach to sign World Cup star<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Along with Engels, the Black Cats are also keeping an eye on the World Cup star. According to 225 Foot, broadcast by Sport Witness, Sunderland have made contact with Christo Inao Ourai, who currently plays a key role in the Ivory Coast&#8217;s midfield, with a view to signing him.<\/p>\n<p>Stadium of Light officials have already completed an extensive scouting mission on the 20-year-old and contacted his agent, but they are not the only ones in the competition. Fulham and Brentford have also done the same, which could spark a war for Trabzonspor&#8217;s star.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"\" align=\"\" summary=\"\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">\n<p>25\/26<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">\n<p>Inao Urai<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">\n<p>Xhaka<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>minutes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2,077<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2,903<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>the goal<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>tackle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>49<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>50<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>collect<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>124<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>179<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Successful duel<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>55.5%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>60.3%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>It&#8217;s easy to see why Sunderland would target Inao Ulai, described by scout Jacek Kulig as &#8220;unbelievable&#8221;. The young star has the potential to eventually surpass Xhaka on Wearside and almost matched his impressive numbers last season despite playing fewer minutes.<\/p>\n<p>The 20-year-old is currently enjoying impressive results at the World Cup and could end up making his way to the Premier League sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n<p><em>Read next: Sunderland prepare to sign new star<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                              \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"sunderland-now-readying-approach-to-sign-mariano-troilo\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<p>                        <img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"440\" height=\"248\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"mariano troilo palma\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mixcollage-19-jun-2026-02-02-pm-9218.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=220&amp;h=124&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mixcollage-19-jun-2026-02-02-pm-9218.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=220&amp;h=124&amp;dpr=2\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sunderland_prepare_to_sign_star_player_as_club_face_inevitable_26m_sale\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tSunderland prepare to sign star player as club face inevitable \u00a326m sale<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">He could be the first signing of the summer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the Europa League awaiting them next season, Sunderland have the chance to take advantage of their new-found status in this summer&#8217;s transfer window and be more ambitious than ever. They had already grabbed the headlines a year ago by bringing in the likes of Granit Xhaka. This was the kind of spending newly promoted [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[363,913,9382,40,1028,32,4685,380,86,489,42],"class_list":["post-49086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-approach","tag-cup","tag-extensive","tag-football","tag-mission","tag-open","tag-scouting","tag-signing","tag-star","tag-sunderland","tag-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49086"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49086\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}