Transfer window: A look back at Sunderland's past deadline day flops

And Sunderland, over the years, have been no different.

We take a look at some of their biggest deadline day flops and one player who turned his fortunes around at the club.

Oh, and Andy Carroll makes an appearance too. We couldn’t resist:

Ricky Alvarez, August 2014:

One of the more recent flops.

Ricky Alvarez was signed on deadline day in 2014 but has proved a major headache for Sunderland ever since.

Alvarez – who started just five Premier League games in red and white - quickly become an outcast on Wearside.

Sunderland were duty-bound to sign Alvarez in a £7.5million deal if they remained in the Premier League last season.

But the Black Cats are arguing that Inter breached the loan contract due to their hesitation in approving knee surgery for the 27-year-old.

While a FIFA arbitration case remains ongoing, the governing body has allowed him to carry on playing, at Italian side Sampdoria.

Benjani, January 2010:

Then Sunderland boss Steve Bruce saw the experienced striker as a player who would substantially up the workrate and the options in attack.

But ultimately Benjani’s Sunderland CV was less than impressive.

He made just one start and seven substitute appearances in his time on Wearside, totalling only 121 minutes of action.

However, at least the pay-as-you-play loan deal on his £50,000-per-week wages (!) agreed between Sunderland and City kept the cost to a minimum for the Black Cats.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos, 2012:

Statistics show that Sotirios Kyrgiakos has been Sunderland’s worst deadline day signing.

The Greek defender joined the Black Cats on the winter deadline day of 2012, on loan until the end of the season from Bundesliga outfit VfL Wolfsburg.

He arrived with a decent reputation having made 30 appearances during two seasons at Liverpool and having been capped 60 times by his country.

But in 104 days at the club he made just four appearances.

That is the worst return of any of Sunderland’s deadline day signings to have never been loaned out.

Danny Graham, 2013:

One flop who turned his Sunderland career around is Graham.

He made 12 appearances for Sunderland after his £5million move from Swansea City, failing to score, before being loaned out to Hull City.

But he forced his way back into the side at Sunderland and played an important role in last season’s survival.

Overall though, Graham netted just once in 41 appearances after arriving from Swansea three years ago.

Graham is currently out on loan at Blackburn Rovers and with his contract coming to an end this summer, he looks to have played his final game for Sunderland AFC.

And finally...Andy Carroll.

While he has never played for Sunderland, who could forget Andy Carroll’s move to Liverpool!

Carroll became the most expensive British player in history when Liverpool shelled out an incredible £35million to take him from Newcastle in 2011.

They sold him on two-and-a-half-years later at a £20m loss, not to mention the millions they lost in wages....