Sunderland tried their luck with André-Frank Zambo Anguissa last summer, and it looks like that door has swung open once again. According to Il Mattino, and Sport Witness, both Sunderland and Bournemouth were very serious about the Cameroon international in the 2025 summer window, especially with his family keen on a move back to England. Antonio Conte eventually talked Zambo Anguissa into staying, and while talks over a new deal started, nothing ever actually got signed. Napoli triggered an option to keep him until June 2027, but that hasn’t done much to settle his long-term future.
Sunderland get a second chance to sign Zambo Anguissa as Napoli exit grows likelier
Negotiations between the club and the midfielder have basically stalled lately, largely because his fitness has become a major question mark. The 30-year-old hasn’t played since mid-November due to a tricky lower back problem, and Conte even mentioned that the medical staff hadn’t found a clear fix for a while.
His last appearance for Napoli was back on 9 November 2025. Constant back pain ended up pushing back his expected January return, though he finally got back to full fitness ahead of a possible comeback against Hellas Verona in late February. While Il Mattino notes there is interest from Turkey, teams like Sunderland still have a very clear path if they want to move in.
Should Sunderland take the gamble on Zambo Anguissa this summer?
NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 06: Frank Zambo Anguissa of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Torino FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
This was Sunderland’s first year back in the Premier League since 2017. They are remaining in the top-flight next season as well, and because of that, the squad needs players who are ready to perform right away rather than expensive projects. Zambo Anguissa is one such profile, even with the obvious red flags. What he brings to the pitch is hard to ignore: he’s great at carrying the ball through the middle, wins his fair share of physical battles, and has a knack for popping up in the final third. He actually bagged four goals this season before getting injured. These are exactly the kind of traits a newly promoted team need from a midfielder.
The big downside is impossible to miss, though. Having two major injury spells in one season, a hamstring tear while away with Cameroon and then the back issue, makes you wonder if he can handle the grind of a Premier League calendar. On the flip side, since Anguissa’s contract ends in June 2027, Sunderland might be able to grab him without paying a massive fee.
If they play him in a slightly more advanced role to take some of the physical load off, they could probably keep him fresh for longer. Since his family already wanted a move to England last year, this is a deal Sunderland could likely wrap up pretty fast. It’s definitely a risk, but the payoff could be huge, and it’s a move Sunderland should be looking at seriously.
