Transfer news: Club set for summer decision over £3.5m Sunderland and Celtic target amid fresh contract claim

Sunderland and Celtic may have to bide their time to complete a swoop for Lecce defender Antonino Gallo, according to reports.

According to an update from online outlet Football Insider earlier this week, both the Black Cats and the Hoops have identified the left-back as a potential target following an impressive run of form over in Serie A.

Regis Le Bris’ men are supposedly eyeing the Italian as a replacement for Arthur Masuaku, who has completed a loan move to RC Lens, despite having both Dennis Cirkin and Reinildo Mandava available as senior options on the left-side of defence. For their part, the Scottish champions are understood to be in the market for cover for Kieran Tierney due to Marcelo Saracchi’s injury-blighted loan stint in Glasgow.

But according to a fresh report from continental publication Solo Lecce, any swoop for Gallo is unlikely to happen this month. Firstly, it is claimed that Lecce value their player at around £3.5 million, and that they have already fended off one approach from Greek side Panathinaikos for the 26-year-old.

Solo Lecce then go further into the exact details of Gallo’s current situation in Italy, stating that while his contract may be due to expire this coming summer, the plan is for Lecce to extend his deal by a further year before weighing up whether or not to sell him at the end of the season.

Gallo signed for Lecce from Virtus Francavilla in 2020, and has established himself as a key figure for his current employers in recent years. At the time of writing, he has 175 first team appearances to his name, scoring one goal and contributing 10 assists across all competitions.

The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.

What other Sunderland-related transfer speculation is there?

Elsewhere, any speculative hopes Sunderland might have had of completing a deal for Barcelona attacker Fermin Lopez look to have vanished after the Champions League club confirmed that they have reached an agreement over a new contract with their academy graduate.

Earlier in the January transfer window, the Black Cats were sensationally linked with a £69 million for the Spain international, and while the prospect of any such transfer coming to fruition always seemed quite faint, an exit for Lopez now seems off the table entirely.

An official statement from Barcelona reads: “Agreement has been reached between FC Barcelona and first team player Fermin Lopez to extend and improve his contract for a further two seasons up to 30 June 2031. The contract will be signed during the coming days in the office of president Joan Laporta, when the player will also be speaking to the media.

“So, FC Barcelona and Fermin Lopez are set to remain together for many more years. The Andalusian midfielder renews his commitment to the club after living the dream of every child in La Masia, achieved by working hard, persevering and bringing talent.”

Your next Sunderland read: Sunderland’s quiet transfer window explained after Kyril Louis-Dreyfus remark – and why fans shouldn’t panic