Sunderland consider list of 60 possible signings before transfer deadline

Four new signings have arrived at the Stadium of Light so far this month, but Sam Allardyce is eager for at least one more addition, with the Sunderland boss ideally keen to add another forward and right-back.

But despite their plight in the relegation battle, Sunderland are not short on offers of players, with dozens of potential acquisitions landing on Allardyce’s desk in the final week of the window.

Allardyce - linked with a move for Bordeaux attacking midfielder Wahbi Khazri - admits the challenge for Sunderland’s staff is to see if any of those are suitable to boost the Black Cats’ survival hopes, before Monday’s 11pm deadline.

“We have about 60 players who are available on our desk, from various parts of Europe,” he said.

“They’re 60 players who can leave their football clubs and all those 60 have to filter through our system.

“We’ve already done about 60 since January 1, so we’ve got another 60 who have just popped up in the last few days.

“We get all our tools together with our recruitment department and find out as much as we can about who they are and what they are, and then move for them if we want them.”

Allardyce has confirmed that Sunderland have made an enquiry over a loan move for Arsenal right-back Mathieu Debuchy, although he insists the move has progressed no further than that.

Sunderland have also been chasing Swansea winger Andre Ayew for the last fortnight, despite the Welsh club repeatedly insisting that the Ghana international is not for sale.

Allardyce claims that Sunderland’s interest in Ayew is now over, even though he is eager to improve the Black Cats’ options in the final third.

But at this stage of the window, Allardyce believes it is dangerous to be prioritising any position, if an appealing player becomes available.

“A player who you think could make your team better is always a priority,” he said.

“If he’s available, you’ve got to go out and get him.

“With the deadline getting closer and closer, you can’t say ‘we’ll wait for a defender’.

“If the defender is there, then you have to go out and get him.

“Hopefully you get your forward as well.

“In my experience, there’s always somebody that pops up who you never thought would be available and seem to be a pretty oustanding player.

“The first thing we do is ask ‘Will the player come to Sunderland?’

“The agent will tell you if they will come and you move on from there.”