Michael Beale responds to Yann M'Vila links to Sunderland return | OneFootball

Michael Beale has responded to speculation linking Sunderland with a move to bring Yann M’Vila back to the club.

The midfielder previously played for the Black Cats during the 2015-16 campaign as part of a loan move from Rubin Kazan.

The 33-year-old featured 37 times for the Wearside club as they barely survived in the Premier League under Sam Allardyce.

He went on to sign for French side Saint-Etienne in 2018, before making the switch to Olympiacos in 2020.

M’Vila is currently a free agent, which has led to reports suggesting the Championship side is interested in bringing him back to the Stadium of Light.

Michael Beale responds to M’Vila speculation

Beale has claimed that a move for the experienced player has not been discussed within the club.

“Yann M’Vila? It’s nothing that I’ve discussed in house," said the 43-year-old, via the Sunderland Echo.

The Sunderland boss warned that supporters will need to be patient as the club continues to search for potential signings.

He claimed that the club doesn’t have massive funds to spend, and that finding the right targets to improve the team is proving quite a challenge.

“There’s one or two areas we’d like to strengthen, but it’s a difficult window and we’re not the ones with the biggest pockets in that window in this division," Beale added.

"We’ll see.

“We’re working really hard behind the scenes, and we’re trying to bring players in, but I think we’re going to have to be a bit patient.

“My focus as the coach of the team has to be on the players that are in house and not waiting for people to come in from outside to solve it.

“If people arrive, fantastic.

“But if they don’t, then I have to get more out of this group, for sure."

The Black Cats brought in a number of fresh faces in the summer, but have been unable to sustain the same level of performance as they did in the previous campaign.

They slipped to eighth in the table following a 1-0 loss to Hull City on Friday night.

A second-half strike from Fabio Carvalho sealed all three points for the Tigers at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats will be aiming to earn another top-six finish, having come sixth under Tony Mowbray last year.

But a run of four losses in Beale’s first six league games in charge has highlighted the difficulty of the task at hand for the new head coach.

Friday night’s loss only served to highlight even further just how much the club needs another player or two to come in this January.

The lack of experience in attack has been evident throughout Beale’s start to life at the club.

Yesterday's hosts dominated much of the Hull game, but struggled to break down the Tigers' stern defence and they were ultimately punished on the break by Liam Rosenior’s side.