Sunderland could be given another opportunity to sign SM Caen’s Alexandre Mendy, after failing to secure his services last summer.
The striker and his agent publicly stated he’s keen on making a switch to Sunderland last August. Kylian Mbappé’s family, who took over the club in July 2024, refused to let him join the Black Cats.
Mendy was promised by the Ligue 2 club’s former custodians he’ll be allowed to change clubs last summer. That didn’t happen and he’s still at Caen.
Earlier this week, he used Caen’s struggles this season to criticise their leaders for blocking his move to Sunderland. This hasn’t pleased the French club, according to Ouest-France.
Caen are at the bottom of the Ligue 2 table and are likely to be relegated. Ouest-France state the 31-year-old isn’t wrong because the club did block his sale to Sunderland, but his public outburst is seen as a ‘direct attack’ on the management.
The newspaper states: ‘The problem lies primarily in the timing of the intervention, its publicity, and the multiple interpretations that can result from it. First, Alexandre Mendy is clearly throwing in the towel. He’s acknowledging that SMC’s season is over, that relegation to the National League is inevitable…’
They add Mendy’s “You reap what you sow” comment has been ‘deemed shameful’ by some, who also believe he shouldn’t play for Caen again.
Ouest-France indicate Caen and Mendy would be heading for a ‘divorce’ after this season even though his contract expires in 2026. This could give Sunderland a new opportunity to sign the frontman, but it’s not clear whether they would return for him.
