Sunderland AFC transfer deadline RECAP: 'What do you think' - Watch Jermain Defoe's brilliant reaction to Sunderland Fan TV after arriving at the Academy of Light
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The Black Cats completed five new signings, with Trai Hume, Danny Batth, Patrick Roberts, Jack Clarke and Jay Matete moving to the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland are also set to announce the return of Jermain Defoe, yet that deal can be done after the deadline as the striker is a free agent.
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Hide AdThere have also been some departures, with Tom Flanagan and Aiden O’Brien leaving the club.
Scroll down to see how deadline day unfolded:
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Sunderland AFC transfer deadline day RECAP
Key Events
- The transfer window has shut - and clubs have an extra two hours in which to finalise any in or outgoings.
- Jermain Defoe is set to re-sign for Sunderland.
- The Black Cats have signed Fleetwood midfielder Jay Matete.
- Aiden O’Brien has signed for Portsmouth on a permanent deal.
- Tom Flanagan has completed his deadline day move to Shrewsbury Town.
- Sunderland are looking for a new head coach following the sacking of Lee Johnson.
The latest on Jermain Defoe
Lee Johnson stated on Friday that there had been no significant developments in Sunderland’s move for Jermain Defoe.
Although the deadline for transfers is on Monday, Sunderland could still sign Defoe after the window due to his free-agent status.
Talks continued with the 39-year-old last week as he continues to weigh up his next steps after leaving Rangers earlier this month.
Sunderland are one of a number of League One clubs to hold talks over the prospect of extending his playing career for another six months at least.
Charlton Athletic and Oxford United known to be actively monitoring the situation.
The Black Cats remain in the mix but there is not thought to be a decision imminent.
However, Mark Douglas – Northern Football Correspondent for the i newspaper – has claimed that the deal between Defoe and Sunderland is there to be done.
Speaking on Twitter, he said: “Still don’t understand why they haven’t signed Defoe. The deal is there to be done. Player wants it. Don’t know why it takes three weeks of talks.”
Speaking on Friday, Johnson explained: “There’s no update on that one. Talks have been going on but there’s nothing to add at the moment.
“My focus has been on the game the last couple of days.
“Obviously the deadline for anyone in contract is Monday but out of contract it goes beyond that.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve put a deadline on it or anything like that, it’s just got to be right as we’ve said before that.
“The focus on my side has been training and making the new players feel as comfortable as possible.”
Josh Maja looks to be on the move
Ex-Sunderland striker Josh Maja has reportedly had a medical ahead of a loan move to Stoke City from Bordeaux.
Maja scored 16 goals during the 2018-19 campaign for Sunderland in League One before being sold in the January of that season.
Maja’s departure from Wearside mid-way through Sunderland’s first season in the third tier was a controversial episode with the player and his agent often portrayed as the villain.
But it hasn’t worked out for the striker in France but there were some flashes of quality during the loan move to Fulham.
Nottingham Forest were said to have agreed a deal to pay Bordeaux a fee of €4.5m for Maja last summer.
That roughly equated to around £3.8m for the striker but the move fell through due to an issue with Maja’s medical.
However, the Nigeria international is set to join Championship side Stoke City on a loan deal having completed a medical.
