Sunderland are closing in on their fourth signing of the summer transfer window

While it would be fair to suggest that Sunderland fans are waiting anxiously to see if the club can reinforce their forward options before tonight's 11pm deadline, an initial loan move for Kevin Danso will if finalised complete the club's defensive options for the campaign ahead.

Reporting from transfer insider Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday morning underlines the significance of the deal, with Sunderland set to pay £25 million next summer to sign the Austrian providing they avoid relegation from the Premier League. This, then, can be considered an important part of the club's planning just not for this season but for the next phase of the project. Danso represents a continuation of the club's strategy for last summer, where the continued focus on signing young players with room to develop is complimented by a smattering of peak-age players with top-level experience.

In terms of his best attributes, it would also be fair to say that Danso represents Sunderland doubling down on their obvious defensive strength. Though Sunderland are evolving tactically over time, it would be fair to say the fundamentals of their game model remain in place. For their centre backs, that means they want physicality, speed and a willingness to put your body on the line. In that regard, there is a clear thread to Danso through Ballard, Mukiele et al. In a disappointing campaign generally for Spurs last season, Danso still excelled across a number of defensive statistics. Danso was in the top 2% for aerial duels won, which is consistent with the absolute dominance he has enjoyed in this side of his game right throughout his career. He was also in the top 3% of centre backs for total defensive actions per 90, and the top 3% for clearances.

It's also important to note that we shouldn't simply categorise Danso as a strong defender in his own box. While his stats on the ball for Spurs last season were modest compared to other centre backs in the division, his time at RC Lens presents something of a more rounded picture. In his final full campaign in Ligue 1, where Lens again performed strongly to finish in seventh, he was just outside the top 25% of centre backs for successful dribbles per 90 and just outside the top 30% for successful passes. In a better side enjoying more of the ball, his total defensive numbers were lower but he still raked exceptionally high for blocks and recoveries and was again dominant in duels both aerial and on the ground.

Danso is also a good athlete, in the top 20% of centre backs for number of sprints and total distance covered for centre backs last season. He also, it’s worth noting, gives Régis Le Bris another option for long throws.

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Providing the deal is concluded as expected, Danso will give Le Bris real depth in his defensive positions. A right-footed player, it perhaps does not fully address the issues Sunderland have building out from the left but it does give the Sunderland head coach an imposing group of defensive players. If and when all his players are fit he has two top players for each defensive position, and could combine the speed and threat of Nordi Mukiele and Dayann Methalie in the wide areas with the imposing pair of Ballard and Danso inside.

The other key thing to note with Danso is that from a Sunderland perspective, they will feel the risk is relatively low given just how well known he is to Florent Ghisolfi. Danso was one of Ghisolfi's best and most important signings at Lens, picked up on a free after the sale of Loic Bade to Stade Rennais. Danso would go on to replace Bade with great success, then banking the club a fee of over £20 million a little further down the line. Ghisolfi actually tried to take Danso to AS Roma with him, but the deal fell through at the medical stage - the issue flagged up initially was subsequently cleared emphatically. In terms of character and personality, Ghisolfi knows the player well and so can judge from experience that he will be a good fit within the group.

The bedrock of Sunderland's success last season was a strong defensive platform and in adding Kevin Danso, the Black Cats are very clearly adding to that strength.

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