EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland, Preston and Reading stars on radar of ambitious Belgian outfit

Patrick Roberts. Jack Clarke Sunderland

Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise are ready to raid the British market ahead of a potential Champions League campaign next season, TEAMtalk understands.

The tiny Brussels club are on course for their first title since before the war, having won the Second Division last year, and are ready to make a statement by bringing in some impressive EFL talent.

Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion supremo Tony Bloom, they already have a couple of British players in the squad in the shape Matthew Sorinola and Christian Burgess.

While their budget won’t allow them to compete with the big clubs, they are looking at potential Bosmans from England who could be lured by the prospect of playing Champions League.

We understand that the likes of Reading’s Andy Rinomhota, Preston’s Tom Barkhuizen and Sunderland’s Patrick Roberts are all on their radar. The trio will all be out of contract this summer.

With European football on offer, they also hope they’ll be able to take use of Brighton’s own excellent recruitment. Indeed, the Seagulls have already lured some of the world’s best young talent to the South Coast.

Brighton duo already part of Union

Union Saint-Gilloise currently have Polish keeper Kacper Kozlowski and Japanese ace Kaoru Mitoma on-loan from the Seagulls.

Meanwhile, they have also agreed a deal to send their star striker Deniz Undav, the top-scorer in Belgium, to the Amex in the summer.

Union are currently five points at the top of the Belgian First Division, with one game to go of the regular season.

The play-offs to decide the title winners, European places and relegation begin in May.