Sunderland chasing ‘rising star’ likened to Kylian Mbappe ahead of January

Sunderland is reportedly interested in signing Luciano Rodriguez from Liverpool Montevideo, as revealed by journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon. Head of recruitment Stuart Harvey was reportedly in South America last week to explore this potential transfer.

Luciano Rodriguez, who started his career with Uruguayan second division club C.A Progreso, made his senior debut at the age of 17 in January 2021. He joined Liverpool Montevideo a year later, and since then, the 20-year-old forward has contributed seven goals and four assists in 28 appearances across all competitions for his hometown club. Rodriguez has also made a notable impact on the international stage, earning a spot in Uruguay’s squad for the South American U20 Championship earlier in the year. In this tournament, he scored five goals and provided two assists in nine games, ultimately winning the FIFA U20 World Cup during the summer.

Despite being considered an ‘ambitious’ move by Sunderland, the Black Cats are reportedly willing to invest significantly in Rodriguez, particularly following the departure of Ross Stewart to Southampton in an £8 million deal on transfer deadline day. Sunderland, having not utilized the hefty fee elsewhere, appears keen to secure the promising Uruguayan talent.

Rodriguez, who has drawn comparisons to Kylian Mbappe, is reportedly eager to make a move to Europe. Sunderland aims to expedite the process to avoid potential competition from other clubs. The club’s interest in South American talent aligns with their strategy, as seen with the previous acquisition of Jewison Bennette from Costa Rica. However, the report suggests that while Bennette is younger than Rodriguez, Sunderland needs to approach these transfers with caution, recognizing the challenges these players might face in adapting to the demands of the Championship. The examples of players like Federico Valverde and Ronald Araujo, who left Uruguay for top clubs and took time to adjust, serve as a reminder for Sunderland to be patient in nurturing talent from South America.