Finance guru: Sunderland could be handed transfer boost by news from ‘massive club’ in Europe
Sunderland could co-operate with AS Monaco on transfers if the pair strike up a strategic partnership.
So says finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Black Cats’ links to Monaco through Juan Sartori.
Sartori, who is a non-executive director at the Stadium of Light and owns 20 per cent of the club, is a board member at the Ligue 1 outfit.
As relayed by the Sunderland Echo yesterday (20 March), French outlet L’Equipe reports that Sartori could be set for a more senior role at Monaco.
It is also understood that he is an ally of Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and is keen to establish a network of clubs.
Plumley assessed how Sunderland could benefit as the junior partner in a multi-club operation.
“There’s not an exact science to this,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Some clubs are quite strategic with the way they run their network. And for others, it’s just an association.
“You’re usually looking at sharing resources. That can be players, but it can also be wider. It can also be knowledge-based, like transfer partnerships.
“There could also be some co-branding with relation to commercial partnerships, but that would have to be stipulated in contracts.
“We know Monaco are a massive club but don’t know whether they want an association or something more formal.
“Sunderland aren’t where they want to be right now but they have a big fanbase and stadium. They’re an attractive proposition.”
It was revealed in February that Louis-Dreyfus owns just 41 per cent of Sunderland, contrary to widespread fan belief.
The north-east club are 6th in League One with seven matches left to play.
In other news, Plumley explains how Sunderland can rocket past £1.6m after new deal announced.