Sunderland have missed out on another transfer target ahead of tonight’s deadline.
Sunderland previously made it clear that they wished to sign a new midfielder this month, with Pierre Ekwah and Dan Neil spending most of the campaign as their only senior options.
Corry Evans has been sidelined for a year, while Jay Matete only recently returned from an injury of his own. Meanwhile, Michael Beale doesn’t seem to have put much trust in Chris Rigg so far, with the teenager seven-minute cameo against Stoke City his first since the 43-year-old was appointed.
One midfielder that Sunderland had been linked with was Lyon’s Skelly Alvero, who had previously attracted interest from the likes of Crystal Palace and Borussia Monchengladbach.
Alvero had been struggling for minutes in Ligue 1 and looked set to seal a loan move away in January, however Werder Bremen were said to be leading the race.
The club have now confirmed that the 6 ft 8 youngster has completed a loan switch to the Bundesliga outfit with an option to buy him at the end of the season.
Will Sunderland buy a new midfielder?
Sunderland are rapidly running out of time to sign a new midfielder, and the concerning thing is that they don’t really seem to have been linked with any either.
Pierre Ekwah and Jobe Bellingham looked much better in a flat three midfield at the weekend, and that could be how the Black Cats go forward following the impending departure of Alex Pritchard.
However, that doesn’t dispel the fact that the team really lacks in squad depth in the middle of the park.
Jay Matete has already been linked with a move away, while it appears Michael Beale is far off trusting Chris Rigg with a regular place in the starting line-up. It will take one injury for the manager to be really struggling for options.
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