Sunderland boss Lee Johnson ideally targeting three signings before deadline day as he provides transfer latest

Johnson, speaking ahead of the visit of Gillingham to the Stadium of Light on Saturday, certainly wants to bring in a left-back and forward.

He is confident of signing at least one player and in an ideal world would like to see three arrive, though that would depend on some movement out too, with Will Grigg to Shrewsbury Town looking the most likely on loan.

Johnson says he has had detailed discussions with Grigg and wouldn’t stand in his way of a loan move, provided Sunderland secured another striker with Johnson keen to retain four strikers ahead of the second half of the season.

On transfer business, Johnson said: “I am confident we will get at least one in, hopefully two and ideally three.

“I think the more we move towards the twos and threes there will have to be movement.

“But we are on it and the boys are doing a great job behind the scenes, we have all been looking extensively into the type of personality and players we want to bring in.

“We have had to do it this window generally with our own knowledge and contacts without the in-depth recruitment department currently in the club.

“There has been some excellent names on the list, some fall away, some are still there and those are the ones we are trying to attack now.”

Johnson couldn’t give a definitive answer on Grigg’s future and added he would be more than happy for the striker to stay but accepted he may want to move on.

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