Although Louis-Dreyfus will be hesitant to surpass his transfer record, Sunderland may lose out on the goal scorer they so desperately need if he is unable to get the necessary funds.

Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus will have to up Sunderland’s offer for Alexandre Mendy if they are to land the forward. Sunderland’s proposed move for Mendy has dragged on and seems likely to go beyond the start of the season, which begins on Saturday at Cardiff City.

The club’s interest in SM Caen’s Mendy was made clear a few weeks ago and the player himself released a statement via French outlet, Foot Mercato, stating he had chosen to join Sunderland over a move to Saudi Arabia.

That was on the understanding a fee would be agreed but it was reported by Sport in Caen that the Black Cats’ opening bid was below £1 million, which is well short of Caen’s valuation of the player, understood to be at least £3 million.

Mendy’s move was further scuppered when it was revealed by Foot Mercato that Kylian Mbappe’s purchase of Caen was seemingly holding up the move. The French outlet claimed that the Real Madrid player wanted to speak with Mendy to convince him to stay.

Mendy has since released another statement, via Foot Mercato on Saturday, stating he still intended to leave and insisting, “My decision was made in January and since June my destination has been known.”

It may well be the case that Mendy wants to join Sunderland but unless a fee can be agreed between the two clubs, that move can’t happen.

Louis-Dreyfus will be reluctant to break his transfer record but if he doesn’t come up with the fee, it could cost Sunderland the goalscorer they crave.

But in fairness to the Black Cats’ owner, he knows that the club misspent on players for years which has proved damaging, and he does not want to make the same mistakes, with the best example being Will Grigg, who cost £4 million, and eventually left on a free transfer having scored eight goals in 62 appearances.