Striker Alexandre Mendy still bears the weight of last summer’s failed transfer to Sunderland, a move that lingers in his thoughts and emotions.

Despite keen interest and multiple bids from Sunderland, the French striker’s hopes of relocating to the North East were dashed when Caen blocked the transfer. Expressing his lingering disappointments, Mendy revealed, “No, I’ve not recovered 100 per cent… The after-effects of what was said, what happened in the past and also everything to do with my family: having packed my bags, having thought about going elsewhere, all those things.”

While Mendy admits to still feeling the unresolved void created by the failed move, he focuses on finding solace on the pitch. As he metaphorically puts it, “The furniture has gone up but the boxes haven’t been unpacked yet… It’s taking a long time, there are a lot of boxes to unpack.” Mendy remains committed to overcoming these emotional burdens in due time, as he channels his energy towards his football responsibilities.