Updated: 12 May 2026 17:11 BST |
5 min read
Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki has refused to rule out a big-money move in the summer, amid tentative links with Manchester United.
The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most promising young midfielders following a stellar first season in England.
Sadiki joined Sunderland from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise for €20.5million (£17.75m) last summer, and has played a key role in helping the Black Cats comfortably maintain their top-flight status this season.
Forming a strong midfield partnership with fellow summer arrival Granit Xhaka, Sadiki – known for his energetic style – has made 30 league appearances for Sunderland, who are riding high in 12th.
Such has been Sadiki’s influence in the heart of Sunderland’s midfield that his side suffered a sharp drop in form when he joined up with DR Congo for the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year.
While Sadiki helped his country reach the semi-finals of Africa’s flagship tournament, Sunderland – on the other hand – lost four of their seven league fixtures in that time, recording just two wins against Crystal Palace and Burnley.
Following the conclusion of AFCON, Sadiki returned to the Sunderland fold for their trip to Leeds United on 3 March, and helped his side record their first clean sheet in a 1-0 victory.
Sadiki, who has 18 caps for DR Congo, has been loosely linked with United as a result of his performances this season, while he has also been mentioned as a potential €52m (£45m) transfer target for Chelsea and Liverpool, according to LiveScore.
And the Brussels-born star has now fuelled speculation surrounding his future with an open-ended transfer admission when asked about talk of a potential move.
In quotes carried by The Sunderland Echo, who only mention links with United and Liverpool in their report, Sadiki said: “My future? I still have two matches to play with Sunderland, then the World Cup, which will be very special for the Congolese people. And as for the rest, we’ll see next season when the time is right.”
While Liverpool have primarily been linked with wingers as they look to replace legendary forward Mohamed Salah this summer, United meanwhile are planning a midfield revamp at the end of the season, according to BBC Sport.
United were able to watch Sadiki up close last weekend as Sunderland held Michael Carrick’s side to a 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light.
Next up for Sunderland is a trip to Everton on Sunday afternoon, whereas United play host to Nottingham Forest on the same day.
Analysis: Sadiki one to watch at the upcoming World Cup
Having caught the eye in the middle of Sunderland’s midfield, Sadiki will be hoping to earn even more admirers when representing DR Congo at the World Cup in North America this summer.
Sebastien Desabre’s side have been placed in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia and Jamaica, with the Leopards preparing for a historic first World Cup appearance since 1974.
While Sadiki’s links with United remain tentative, the Red Devils are believed to monitoring several midfielders ahead of the summer transfer window opening, including Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.
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