AliousStrasbourg Chief Reveals Transfer ‘Promise’ That Could Open Door for Sunderland & Fulham Target Habib Diarra Amid £18.7m Bidding War
Strasbourg president Marc Keller has confirmed that Habib Diarra, a reported target for Sunderland and Fulham, could be allowed to leave the club this summer — due to a personal agreement made with the player two years ago.
Diarra, a 21-year-old Senegalese international, has emerged as a highly sought-after figure in the current transfer window, attracting interest from several Premier League clubs. Leeds United, Fulham, Bournemouth, and newly-promoted Sunderland are all monitoring the midfielder’s situation closely.
Among these clubs, Leeds are said to have made the first concrete move, reportedly submitting a bid in the region of £18.7 million. However, despite talks with Strasbourg progressing, transfer expert Ben Jacobs has cast doubt on a deal being finalised any time soon. In a recent update on X (formerly Twitter), Jacobs noted that negotiations had hit snags on the player’s side, stating: *“Habib Diarra’s potential move to Leeds is looking unlikely at this stage. Leeds put in a bid to Strasbourg last week, but there are issues in negotiations with player side that need resolving if anything is to progress.”
Nevertheless, the situation remains fluid, particularly after a revealing statement from Keller during an appearance on RMC’s *After Foot* programme. The club president disclosed that Diarra’s possible exit is tied to a promise made in 2023, when the player signed a contract extension with Strasbourg. According to Keller: *“There’s one player who’s due to leave based on a promise I made to him two years ago: our captain, Habib Diarra. When he extended his contract, we told him he wouldn’t leave until June 2025. So if we get an interesting offer for him and for us, he could leave.”
Meanwhile, Sunderland’s sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has outlined the club’s evolving recruitment strategy following promotion to the Premier League. Speaking about their summer objectives, he acknowledged that the demands of top-flight survival will shift their transfer priorities:
*”We’re not naive to what the Premier League is. The strategy to get here is going to be different from what is required to stay here. The objective has never just been about promotion — it’s been about re-establishing Sunderland as a competitive top-tier side. That means we have to start building with players who can help us stay up and eventually push higher.”
Speakman also emphasized that the Black Cats have already been actively pursuing targets, stating that he’s been travelling extensively across Europe to hold discussions with players and agents.
*”I’ve spent the last three days in three different countries, speaking with players and agents. The work has been underway for weeks.”
With Diarra seemingly edging closer to a summer move and Sunderland’s recruitment drive in full swing, the situation remains one to watch closely in the weeks ahead.
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