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Sunderland handed major Dayann Methalie transfer boost as £25.7m Toulouse talks continue Dayann Methalie wants Sunderland as talks continue with Toulouse over a £25.7million deal Dayann Methalie has reportedly chosen Sunderland as the Black Cats continue talks with Toulouse over a deal for the highly-rated left-back. Sunderland have stepped up their pursuit of the 20-year-old this week and are understood to have already reached an agreement with the player over a five-year contract. An agreement between the two clubs is still to be found, but Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri has now reported that Methalie wants to move to the Stadium of Light and that fresh talks are expected. Tavolieri wrote on X: “Dayann Methalie has made his choice: he wants Sunderland AFC. The English side have put a serious package on the table and ticked every box. Toulouse have raised the bar as the window has gone on, now holding out for £25.7million for their academy gem. “Sunderland’s latest offer tops £21.4million including add-ons, with fresh talks expected. Sunderland is the perfect Premier League step for Methalie. And for Toulouse, potentially one of the biggest sales in the club’s history for a ‘pitchoun’ with a single Ligue 1 season behind him.” It represents a significant increase on the Black Cats’ opening proposal, which L’Équipe reported was worth around £17million and had been rejected by the Ligue 1 club. Toulouse’s stance has been influenced by the recent sale of striker Emersonn to Ipswich Town. The Championship club are believed to have paid around £24million, with a further £3.5million potentially due in add-ons. The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel. Toulouse are now seeking an even larger package for Methalie, who is regarded as one of the leading young prospects in French football following his breakthrough season. The academy graduate made 31 competitive appearances during the campaign and has attracted interest from elsewhere, but Sunderland now appear to have been given significant encouragement by the player’s desire to join Régis Le Bris’s side. Left-back has been one of Sunderland’s main priorities since Dennis Cirkin’s departure earlier this summer. Reinildo is currently the only established senior option in that position within Le Bris’s squad. The Black Cats are also looking to recruit another right winger following Bertrand Traoré’s exit. A left-sided centre-back and further attacking depth remain possibilities, although the club have stressed throughout the window that their focus is on quality rather than quantity.