It looks set to be a busy end to the transfer window on Wearside

It has been a quiet summer transfer window so far, though Florent Ghisolfi has been working hard to line up new additions and also to trim the wage bill ahead of the new campaign.

So what deals are left to be done and what can fans expect between now and the end of the window? Here, we break it down…

Dayann Methalie/new left back

Sunderland had a €33 million bid for Methalie rejected earlier this week, with Toulouse not satisfied with the overall fee but primarily the structure of what was guaranteed and what was to be realised in future add-ons.

At this stage you can’t rule out that gap being bridged as Sunderland clearly rate Methalie very highly and the Ligue 1 club have said that they will sell if the fee is right. However, Sunderland feel their last bid was a very good one and have actively begun to move on to pursue other targets for the position. Though Reinildo was a hugely dependable presence last season, he did miss a reasonable amount of games over the course of the season so it’s crucial to add competition and cover.

Whether it be Methalie or somebody else, this is one of the key priorities for Ghisolfi to address between now and the end of the window. A new addition would also all but remove the need for Trai Hume to move across as cover, in turn finalising the club’s defensive options on the opposite flank.

New right winger

Though Trai Hume continues to perform well in this role and looks set to continue in the opening weeks of the season, for the long campaign ahead it is clear that Sunderland need a specialist for the position. Not just to ensure they have enough depth to cope with the increased schedule, but to ensure they have a more traditional attacking threat in this area of the pitch for certain scenarios within a game.

Matías Soulé was one player of interest and the Black Cats have also held talks with Sporting over Geny Catamo, though in the case of the latter it is understood that the asking price is very high and therefore a potentially significant hurdle to clear. This has been Sunderland’s other absolute priority position this summer and given the fact that there is almost certain to be a significant fee involved, they are determined to get it right.

New left-sided centre back

Sunderland made a move to sign Sassuolo centre back Tarik Muharemović earlier this summer, but Leeds United made a decisive intervention to win the race after the sale of Pascal Struijk to Brighton. It nevertheless gave us a clear insight into Sunderland’s thinking, particularly given their lengthy pursuit of Bologna centre back Jhon Lucumí last summer.

Though Luke O’Nien’s excellent form means there is no need to panic or rush into a signing, Sunderland would like to sign competition and cover for Omar Alderete.

O’Nien is likely to start the season and has the absolute trust of his head coach and so this position probably isn’t a priority to the same extent as the other two, but remains very much one to watch.

Jenson Seelt (outgoing)

If Sunderland do recruit in those two defensive positions, then it will likely pave the way for Seelt to move on in search of regular game time. Le Bris confirmed after the RC Lens win that no final decision had been made, but that right now he was needed for cover given the injury and transfer situation. A move towards the end of the window seems to be on the cards.

Abdoullah Ba (outgoing)

Ba had been close to a move to Peterborough United this week with the two clubs in agreement over a deal, but the player and the League One side were unable to finalise the transfer and it now appears that Posh have moved on to other targets.

Ba has entered the last year of his contract at Sunderland so if another deal doesn’t materialise, it might be the case that the club and player look to find an arrangement that sees him leave on a free.

Luis Hemir (outgoing)

Hemir is in a very similar position to Ba, undergoing his pre-season preparations away from the main group as he waits for a move away from the club. Hemir still has two years left to run on his current Sunderland contract.

Alan Browne (outgoing)

Browne has been a dependable presence in his pre-season appearances and has shown he can play a part if required but competition for places in midfield is high and it still seems unlikely that he will earn regular minutes this season. Browne has interest from a number of Championship clubs and it’s likely that a move will materialise in the latter stages of the window.

Simon Adingra (outgoing)

Sunderland are open to offers for Adingra who struggled to establish himself in the starting XI last season, but any deal could be impacted by an injury he picked up in the final game of the club’s US tour. As of the start of this week the club were still waiting for a definitive prognosis.

The other deals that could happen before the end of the window

Facing significant competition for places in his preferred left-wing position, it’s possible that Romaine Mundle could be on the move this month particularly given that he has now entered the final two years of his contract.

Sunderland could also look to add some more young talent to their squad for the long run, particularly in forward areas where Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor are well established but another versatile player would add welcome depth.

Aji Alese could be another player on the move later this month in search of regular game time, though his primary focus at the moment has been getting a solid block of training and game time under his belt.

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