Sunderland were linked with a move for Jonas Omlin earlier this month.

Reported Sunderland target Jonas Omlin has expressed his delight at completing a loan move to Bayer Leverkusen after the Black Cats’ bid for the player fell through.

The Swiss international emerged as an apparent option for Regis Le Bris’ side last week, with suggestions that they had opened talks with his parent club, Borussia Monchengladbach, over a temporary agreement of their own.

Sunderland could look to sign a new understudy to Robin Roefs this January as a means of freeing up Anthony Patterson for a potential loan exit. A number of Championship sides, including Millwall, are said to be keeping tabs on the 25-year-old, but the understanding is that the Black Cats will only sanction his departure if a suitable replacement can be brought in.

To that end, Omlin was reportedly identified as a target, but following an injury to first choice stopper Mark Flekken, Leverkusen have since swooped in to ensure that the 32-year-old will be staying in Germany for the remainder of the campaign.

What has Jonas Omlin said about his loan transfer to Bayer Leverkusen amid reported Sunderland interest?

Speaking to the Bundesliga side’s official club website, Omlin said: "I'm delighted a club like Bayer 04 Leverkusen have placed their trust in me. A Champions League club with big ambitions - it's a great challenge to support my new team and play my part in helping to achieve he goals they’ve set themselves."

Explaining the decision to sign the experienced goalkeeper, managing director of sport Simon Rolfes said: "Jonas Omlin is an internationally experienced keeper who has shown his quality many times at clubs in Switzerland, France and the Bundesliga. Jonas completes our goalkeeping trio following Mark's absence. With him, Janis Blaswich, and Niklas Lomb, we are now ready for the challenges of the coming weeks and months."

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What has Regis Le Bris said about the possibility of Anthony Patterson leaving Sunderland?

For his part, Sunderland head coach Le Bris addressed Patterson’s situation in a recent press conference, stating: "Yes, it's an option for him to leave this month. But he will need to be replaced, absolutely this is the case.

"It's always tough when players aren't playing We have to accept that, for us and for them because you want to play and when you don't play you are frustrated, which is normal. After that, you have competition. For example, for those two players Dan [Neil] with Granit [Xhaka] and Patto with Robin. This is the competition and I think it's fair to say the best players are playing right now. That doesn't mean they're not good players, they are both good players but competition is competition."

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