Former Napoli right-back Anthony Reveillere has been searching for a club since July when released by Rafa Benitez and is said to be undertaking serious discussions with Sunderland over a potential switch to the Premier League. The 34-year-old has enjoyed a well-travelled career until now, with spells in France, Spain and Italy under his belt. Reveillere was a regular starter during five years with Rennes, a short loan spell at Valencia and then a decade spent at Lyon during their most successful period. He wasn't able to hold down a spot in the Napoli side until the final two months of a solitary season in Serie A, though, and found himself out of contract at the end of the campaign as a result. Capped on 20 occasions for his country, the experienced defender represented France at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. He played 426 games in Ligue 1 and 72 times in the UEFA Champions League prior to his unfortunate inability to seal a deal elsewhere during the course of the summer. One detail that'll be of particular interest to Black Cats boss Gus Poyet is the Frenchman's versatility on both flanks, with Billy Jones and Partick van Aanholt the only specialists on the right and left respectively. However, the former Lyon star will need to prove his fitness before any agreement can be reached.
Could only see a short term contract with that age A solid enough player but a short term problem solver Believe he was/is a bit of a big name in France? might get some shirt sales
Used to be very good, not sure about now as haven't had a chance to see him play. As a short term stop gap can't be a bad thing, and might give us a little bit, and I mean a little bit, of profile in France.
Sunderland are believed to be interested in a deal to sign free agent right back Anthony Reveillere after the Frenchman left Napoli this summer. At 34, Reveillere is a vastly experienced defender who could sign for the Black Cats in the coming days, with speculation suggesting that manager Gust Poyet held talks with him today. The Black Cats signed Billy Jones from West Brom this summer, but it's largely been centre back Santiago Vergini filling in at right back this season, leading to Poyet wanting more cover there. Reveillere is far from a household name in English football, and with that in mind, here are five facts about the potential arrival on Wearside. 1. Reveillere started his career with SO Vihiers, before moving on to Angers at the age of 12, leaving five years later for a move to Rennes. 2. He went on to establish himself as a key player at the Stade de la Route de Lorient, making almost 150 appearances for the club before being loaned to Valencia for the second half of the 2003 season. 3. The Spanish giants didn't exercise a permanent deal, which left Reveillere to join to Lyon, where he spent ten years, playing almost 300 games as the club enjoyed the best spell in their history, winning Ligue 1 in five successive seasons. 4. It was whilst he was at the Stade Gerland that Reveillere earned international honours, playing against Israel in a Euro 2004 qualifier, and he has earned 20 caps for his country, including playing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and Euro 2012. 5. Reveillere left Lyon in the summer of 2013, but only joined Napoli in November as Rafael Benitez needed cover at right back, and it seems the same thing could be happening for him again.
According to the Echo:- But Sunderland have been offered a succession of Bosman players since the end of the transfer window and it would be a major surprise if they made a move for the 34-year-old. Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet told the Echo last month that he expected to wait until the January window to add players to his squad, rather than looking at free agents. Poyet said: “There were a few calls about a few players. But to be honest, I’m not really looking. I’d prefer to go until January.” Sunderland already have Santiago Vergini and Billy Jones on the books who are comfortable playing at right-back, although the latter suffered an injury scare last week when he limped off during a practice game against Middlesbrough.
