Sunderland have completed the signing of Bordeaux forward Wahbi Khazri on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
The Tunisian international becomes the fifth player to join the club, with Jan Kirchhoff, Dame N’Doye, Steve Harper and Lamine Kone also making the switch to Wearside.
Khazri is a versatile player who can play either side of the striker or as a ‘number 10’. The 24-year-old netted 14 times for the French outfit in 49 starts.
Big Sam and Khazri have their say on the move
Sam Allardyce described his new signing as ‘a quick, dynamic attacking player’. Allardyce also said he was ‘delighted’ to secure the services of Khazri as the latter will ‘complement’ Sunderland’s ‘existing forward options’.
The new signing spoke to safc.com and expressed his delight to play in the Premier League. Khazri stated that he is ‘very happy’ to be joining Sunderland and feels England’s top flight is ‘the best league in Europe’.
Herni Saivet is a former team-mate and close friend of Khazri, who told Sunderland’s new boy ‘that the people are fantastic’. Saivet was another player who departed Bordeaux with Newcastle securing his services two weeks ago.
Transfer speculation
The arrival of Khazri will be Sunderland’s statement signing, with Andre Ayew likely to stay put at Swansea.
Despite the North East side shelling out £14m in the space of a week, Allardyce is still keen to add to his defensive options with Arsenal man Mathieu Debuchy reportedly on the radar.
Arsene Wenger admitted yesterday that the right-back could depart the Gunners albeit Sunderland are looking at other alternatives.
Not an easy start for Allardyce's new boys
Allardyce’s men face a daunting run of fixtures with Manchester City the opponents on Tuesday night. The Black Cats then travel to Merseyside to face Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool before welcoming Manchester United to the Stadium of Light.
