Sunderland are set for a busy final few hours of the January transfer window
Sunderland are in talks for a move that will see Simon Adingra head out on loan to Ligue 1 club AS Monaco for the rest of the campaign.
Though Adingra has made a number of appearances for Sunderland this season, he has been unable to hold a regular place in Régis Le Bris's starting XI and it's felt that a move could be in everyone's best interests in order to allow him to play consistently. The deal is not done and indeed there are no guarantees that it will be completed before the 7pm deadline, but Sunderland are open to his departure now that they have Romaine Mundle and Chemsdine Talbi fit and available following injury and AFCON commitments. Bertrand Traoré is currently sidelined with injury, but is expected to be back in around three weeks and the likes of Eliezer Mayenda, Chris Rigg and Habib Diarra are all seen as options in the wide areas. January signing Jocelin Ta Bi will be ready to push for contention in around a fortnight and Enzo Le Fée has been deployed on the left with good success earlier in the season.
If Adingra does join Monaco, it's expected that Sunderland will secure a seven-figure loan fee and that an option-to-buy clause will be included as part of the deal. If triggered, it would essentially see Sunderland recoup what they paid Brighton to sign him in the summer.
There is still work to do be done on the deal but at this stage Adingra is not expected to be in the squad to face Burnley tonight should the transfer progress in the coming hours. The deal is dependent on Adil Aouchiche concluding a move to Bundesliga 2 side Schalke, as the attacking midfielder currently takes up one of the club's six international loan slots. His recall from his loan at Aberdeen and permanent departure would then allow Adingra to complete his loan switch, and underlines the delicate nature of the transfer chain on deadline day.
Sunderland will conclude more business before the deadline, with Leo Hjelde in talks with Sheffield United over a potential loan switch. The Black Cats have been assessing their options in terms of strengthening their squad further, with central midfield and the wide areas potential position they have been weighing up recruiting into. A resolution on Lutsharel Geertruida's future, with a potential switch to Liverpool not progressing, has somewhat lessened the need for another midfielder even in Granit Xhaka's absence.
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