Sunderland are keeping tabs on Kosovo international Arbenit Xhemajli ahead of a potential summer move for the centre-back.
The Black Cats are believed to casting their scouting net far and wide this summer as Phil Parkinson looks to strengthen his side ahead of the League One campaign. And 22-year-old Xhemajli, plying his trade in the Swiss Super League, has been identified as a potential target, Chronicle Live understands.
The young defender made his Kosovo international debut last October in a friendly win over Gibraltar.
Swiss-born, he came through the ranks at FC Zurich before joining Neuchatel Xamax FCS in 2017. He made his senior debut for them that season as they earned promotion to the Swiss Super League.
Last term they managed to stay in the top flight after winning the relegation play-off. With still one game left of the current campaign due to a temporary suspension because of COVID-19, Xamax are this time already relegated.
But with exciting prospect Xhemajli out of contract, it is expected he will move on this summer, with Sunderland keeping a close eye on developments. The Swiss season will be completed on Monday evening.
The 6ft3in defender is seen by Sunderland as a player with huge potential, and one whom could rise with them through the divisions should they achieve their goals.
Having released three centre-backs this season, they're in the market to strengthen their defensive options, although they have been boosted by both Tom Flanagan and Brandon Taylor extending their stays, while Bailey Wright joined permanently too. But those three only add to Jordan Willis for just four men competing for three starting spots, while Conor McLaughlin is seen as a versatile back-up option.
Despite Xamax's poor league placing this term, Xhemajli has impressed. They've conceded the second-highest amount of goals in the Swiss Super League, but were twice beaten 6-0 in games where he was absent. Scratch off this 12 goals against and they'd have only conceded two more than FC St. Gallen who will finish the season as runners-up.
Xamax, managed by former Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz, have recorded just three clean sheets all season, but Xhemajli playing 90 minutes for all three. While clearly still raw, he is seen as someone who could be coached into becoming a top player with high sell-on value.
The scouting of Xhemajli suggests a new approach at Sunderland, following the departures of key transfer team figures Richard Hill and Tony Coton.
Non-executive director David Jones has previously spoken about modernising Sunderland's recruitment, with modern digital data a key tool many other teams now use - most notably Brentford.
They are believed to be currently considering two men to be new head of recruitment - Craig Dean and Guy Branston - both of whom have experience in youth development and recruitment, as well as modern methods of scouting.
Whether Sunderland ultimately land Xhemajli or not, the fact they're looking at players like him suggests a change in tactic to the recruitment approach on Wearside, with many championing a new focus on signing young, untapped talent with the ability to develop.
Sunderland's focus is believed to mainly be in the UK, although they are looking across Europe too, as their scouting of Xhemajli proves. The current global situation because of coronavirus is complicating matters when it comes to signings arriving from abroad, but the Black Cats are understood to be continuing to monitor those markets this summer.
