Toulouse Football Club is demanding 40 million euros for left-back Dayann Methalie, a player developed by the club who is attracting interest from several European sides this summer.
Methalie, 20, played his first Ligue 1 season with Toulouse last year, appearing in 27 matches. According to information reported by La Depeche du Midi, club president Olivier Cloarec and Viktor Bezhani are asking for 40 million euros and do not intend to sell him for less.
Several sources say Toulouse's leadership rejected an offer from Sunderland worth an estimated 33 million euros including bonuses. That amount would already have represented the biggest transfer in the club's history.
Other clubs circling
Toulouse's board is standing firm on its asking price. Sunderland is reportedly not the only club interested in the Toulouse-born defender. Newcastle United, Bayer Leverkusen and Lille, which had already approached Methalie last summer, are said to be back in the running.
Methalie has scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist in his 27 Ligue 1 appearances. He is under contract with Toulouse until 2030.
Busy transfer window
Toulouse has already completed notable sales this summer. Emersonn left for Ipswich Town for 32 million euros, including 4 million in bonuses on top of a 28 million euro base fee, while Charlie Cresswell joined Rennes on loan with a mandatory purchase option in a deal reportedly worth 25 million euros excluding bonuses.
A sale of Methalie would, in all likelihood, surpass both of those figures.
