Sunderland transfer news: £3m full-back deal almost done, striker target asks to leave

Ex-Newcastle United full-back Santon is expected to arrive in the North East today after Sunderland agreed a fee of around £3million with Inter Milan for the 25-year-old.

Santon has spent the past 18 months back at boyhood club Inter after leaving Newcastle, but was limited to a bit-part role with the Serie A side last season.

The Italian will immediately boost Sunderland's thread-bare full-back options, where Sam Allardyce has been eager to land a new right-back.

Sunderland's hopes of landing West Ham striker Sakho have also received a boost after the 26-year-old submitted a transfer request.

Sakho is understood to have become impatient at West Ham's determination to sign a new frontman, before they sanction his departure.

Sunderland saw a bid rejected for Sakho earlier in the window, with West Ham looking to recoup around £15m for the Senegal international.

Allardyce needs to bring in a new striker after the departures of Dame N'Doye, Danny Graham and Steven Fletcher, with the latter discussing his Bosman move to Championship Sheffield Wednesday.

Fletcher said: “I watched the team a few times last year and they like to get the ball down and play which suits my game. It has been good so far.”