The January transfer window may be over a month away - yet Sunderland and their Championship rivals will already be assessing which players could be available.
While the Black Cats made 11 new signings over the summer, they did miss out on multiple targets as they were also looking to strengthen their central midfield and winger options.
And while some players on Sunderland’s radar won’t be available, others deals could potentially be revisited.
Here are some moves the club could look at in January and others they won’t:
1. Amad (Manchester United) - Could happen
Sunderland were monitoring Amad’s situation over the summer following his loan spell at the Stadium of Light, yet a knee injury meant the 21-year-old stayed at Old Trafford. With the forward expected to return soon, another loan deal may be possible in January. Photo: Matthew Peters
2. Jay Stansfield (Birmingham) - Won’t happen
Stansfield was one of the strikers Sunderland were tracking over the summer, yet he instead signed for Birmingham on a season-long loan deal from Fulham. The 20-year-old has scored five goals in 12 league appearances since the move to St Andrew’s. Photo: Morgan Harlow
3. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Crystal Palace) - Could happen
Sunderland were one of several Championship clubs who were credited with interest in the Crystal Palace winger, yet the Premier League club opted not to send him out on loan. Rak-Sakyi, 21, hasn’t started a league game for Palace this season, though, making just six appearances off the bench. Photo: Tom Dulat
4. Edouard Michut (Adana Demirspor) - Won’t happen
While Sunderland had an option to make Michut’s loan deal permanent at the end of last season, it was mutually agreed the Frenchman wouldn’t return to Wearside. Michut claimed it was his decision not to re-sign for the Black Cats and instead signed for Turkish club Adana Demirspor on loan from PSG. Photo: Stephen Pond