DERBY COUNTY are hoping to push through a deal for Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts ahead of tomorrow night’s transfer deadline.
And with the winger also attracting interest from other Championship clubs, the Sunderland hierarchy face a decision over what to do with the 28-year-old, who was a major part of last season’s promotion success.
Derby officials are understood to have signalled their interest in Roberts, with reports suggesting the Rams are ready to offer the winger a three-year deal.
Roberts has entered the final year of his current contract on Wearside, although the fact that Sunderland have an option to extend it by another 12 months means he effectively has two years of his deal remaining.
He was a key member of last season’s promotion-winning squad, appearing in 44 of Sunderland’s 46 matches in the regular campaign and all three of their play-off games.
However, he has not featured in the starting line-up for any of this season’s league matches with Chemsdine Talbi, Simon Adingra and Enzo Le Fee having filled the wide-attacking positions.
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Sunderland are hoping to sign another attacking player before the transfer window closes tomorrow night which could shuffle Roberts further down the pecking order.
The winger was the subject of interest from two La Liga clubs earlier in the summer, but spelled out his desire to remain on Wearside and fight for a place in Sunderland’s first-choice XI.
Whether that remains the choice amid hardening interest from Derby and other Championship clubs remains to be seen.
As well as looking to sign another wide-attacker in the final two days of the transfer window, Sunderland continue to pursue a centre-half signing with talks over Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi still ongoing.