Régis Le Bris
As the January transfer window approaches its conclusion, Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor finds himself at the center of growing transfer interest. Sunderland’s head coach, Régis Le Bris, acknowledged Isidor’s frustration over limited playing time but expressed reluctance to see the striker depart without securing a suitable replacement. Isidor, who was pivotal in Sunderland’s promotion last season, has seen his role diminished with Eliezer Mayenda being preferred as an impact substitute in recent matches.
Régis Le Bris said: “For Wilson, I’ve had many conversations with him and his agent recently. He’s a really good player, important for us, did really well in the past and for sure in the future as well. We still have momentum and I think for Sunderland at the minute it’s really positive to have Brian in good form. And two strikers, Eli and Wilson, ready to go. It’s normal to have some difficult periods because they are still young, new in the league. So I don’t know if it’s possible to sustain the level for a whole season in this league. So it’s just normal to have different periods.”
Le Bris added: “Yes, sure [he is frustrated at the moment], which I think is acceptable, it’s not new in professional life. That’s a good question which I don’t want to answer! It’s important, I repeat, from my experience, to have two strikers. Then one a bit more versatile, because it was the case in League One, it’s the case even more in the Premier League… it’s so demanding for only one player you can sustain the level, because of the physicality, because of the strength of the opponents, so you need two to sustain the level. And one more versatile is always useful.”
The Sunderland head coach’s comments underline the challenges of maintaining form and fitness in the Premier League, especially for younger players like Isidor. Despite his frustrations, Isidor remains a valued member of the squad, with Le Bris emphasizing the importance of having multiple attacking options to navigate the rigors of top-flight football.
In other team news, Le Bris provided an update on the availability of Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi ahead of Sunderland’s clash with West Ham United. Both players have returned to training following their participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, with Diarra featuring prominently for Senegal and Talbi making a single substitute appearance for Morocco.
Le Bris said: “Yeah, they are back training. Habib only returned to training today, so the check-up is still ongoing. I hope that they could be available for the next fixture. I hope they will be able to play, but we’ll see for the starting line-up.”
The return of Diarra and Talbi is expected to bolster Sunderland’s squad depth, providing Le Bris with additional options as the team prepares for the upcoming fixture against West Ham. Their reintegration into the squad will be closely monitored, with fitness assessments determining their readiness for selection.
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