​During the World Cup, I’ve been evaluating potential signings from a statistical perspective. I’ve already examined defensive midfielders and left-backs, and now it’s time to turn the lens to the right wing. Last summer we added Chemsdine Talbi and Bertrand Traoré, with Jocelin Ta Bi arriving in January. So why should Sunderland scrutinize this area again? In Traoré’s case, his contract wasn’t renewed in early June. Talbi, though initially identified as a right winger, has evidently favored life on the left, for both Sunderland and Morocco. Ta Bi, who joined from the Israeli First Division, is just 20 years old. The Ivorian has shown promise, scoring four goals for Côte d’Ivoire’s Under-23s in this summer’s Maurice Revello Tournament. Yet he appears somewhat delicate physically, and adapting to the Premier League’s physical demands will take time as he continues to develop.
Simon Adingra must impress on his return to win back Régis Le Bris’s confidence. If he leaves this summer, we would be left with Nilson Angulo, Chemsdine Talbi, and even Enzo Le Fée on the left flank. Ta Bi is essentially Sunderland’s only bona fide option on the right, though Chris Rigg has been used there on occasion.
When assessing a right-wing option for Sunderland, there is a notable “elephant in the room.” Amad Diallo truly came into his own at the Stadium of Light. A prior loan spell at Rangers might have led Manchester United supporters to think he was merely another name on a long list of expensive flops from a pre-INEOS era. Thirteen goals for Tony Mowbray’s side made us fall in love with a loan player.
The iPaper’s Northern Football Correspondent, Mark Douglas, reported in May that if an opportunity arose, Sunderland would certainly consider bringing Diallo back to Wearside. I don’t want to dash hopes, but Fabrizio Romano recently stated that Manchester United won’t be offering that opportunity this summer. Diallo is only 23 and under contract with United until June 2030, so a transfer would likely exceed £60 million. It’s unclear how large Florent Ghisolfi’s transfer budget will be this summer, but regardless, such a sum would consume a substantial portion of it, making a return seem a distant possibility. So, for a right-flank recruit, a different approach seems necessary.
If we’re searching for a right-sided option, what metrics should we prioritize? Sunderland clearly needs more goals from wide areas. It’s almost a given that we must boost scoring contribution from the flanks. Last season, the team finished 17th in the league for goals, with roughly 14% of those coming from wingers—excluding Le Fée, Rigg, and Diarra, who have all spent time on the wing. The numbers don’t lie: we require a larger and more consistent contribution from the right wing to improve both output and balance. In short, Sunderland’s objective on the right is to add goals, create more opportunities, and deliver a higher overall attacking output. A data-driven approach should guide the search toward players who combine goal threat with assist potential, high shot quality, and the ability to influence games in open play and in transition.