Another Sunderland player has been sent out on loan, but this time it is one of the summer signings.
Reports had only just circulated on deadline day of The Black Cats holding talks with French side Monaco to sanction a short-term loan for Simon Adingra.
Into the closing hours of the window, Sunderland followed through and offloaded Adingra with little time to spare. The deal also contains an option for both parties to make the transfer permanent from the summer.
The Ivory Coast international penned a five-year deal at the Stadium of Light from Brighton ahead of Sunderland’s return to top flight football, but he was unable to convince his manager that he should displace his teammates regularly.
The 24-year-old was omitted from the squad of defending champions Ivory Coast for the latest edition of the African Cup of Nations, after scoring just once since joining Sunderland.
With Monaco languishing in 10th place in Ligue 1, the French side will be able to reunite their current top-scorer Ansu Fati with Adingra from their brief time together at Brighton.
The futures of both youngsters in Monaco will remain uncertain as both have been acquired on loan.
Speaking to the club's website, Sunderland’s Sporting Director, Kristjaan Speakman, provided his account on the departure of Adingra, who did not feature in the games against Crystal Palace and West Ham United.
"When considering the balance and priorities of the squad, we felt this was a mutually agreeable opportunity that ensures Simon plays regularly throughout the second part of the season."
This situation warranted a swift replacement, and indeed, Sunderland did deliver that. They lined up a straight swap in the form of Nilson Angulo from Anderlecht at the price of £17.5 million.
As Sunderland fans relished their 2-0 lead, cruising to victory over fellow promoted side Burnley, the club officially announced the signing during half-time.
Angulo, 22, typically operates as a left-winger. He has seven goals to his name this season for the Belgian side together with a small insight into European football on his CV, too.
He is another hot prospect pinched from Belgian soil, since Sunderland have delved into the market there when Chemsdine Talbi and Noah Sadiki were signed.
The latter is a former Anderlecht player too, and his close relationship with the Ecuadorean international, Angulo, will be rekindled.
An implicit component of the allure to Sunderland is the links players have from spells at other clubs.
Granit Xhaka and Nordi Mukiele both elected Sunderland as their chosen destination when they closed the chapter on their time at Bayer Leverkusen.
Brian Brobbey and former Ajax teammate Bertrand Traore both made late moves to Sunderland.
Another unfamiliar face entering the door on Wearside, but the trust in recruitment has persisted by virtue of the impressive performances Sunderland have put together throughout the campaign.
The Sporting Director, Speakman, has been tasked to identify the right mould of players, and has so far eclipsed expectations and delivered on a shrewd recruitment strategy for staying afloat.
On signing Angulo, he said: "A quick and creative wide player, he excels in all the core actions required to impact the final third, and he arrives ambitious to make an impression."
This was far from straightforward to get over the line, though. Adil Aouchiche had spent the first half of the season on loan to Aberdeen, and Sunderland needed to cut an end to his time on Wearside to facilitate Adingra’s move.
Aouchiche did join German second tier leaders Schalke eventually, so that this double piece of business could be finalised.
Angulo boasts the most successful dribbles compared to any other winger in the Belgian Pro League this season.
The league’s latest high-profile export will not have an added pressure of equalling the standards set by Adingra’s sojourn at Sunderland, and he may offer a different dynamic for Sunderland’s left side.
Still, stiff competition from the summer arrivals in the attacking department may impede Angulo from rising up Regis Le Bris’ pecking order just yet.