Sunderland suffer double transfer blow as alternative deals for targets are agreed
SUNDERLAND are set to suffer a double transfer blow, with Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz both on the verge of completing moves to Sheffield United.
The Black Cats tabled a formal offer for Cannon earlier this month, and held talks with Leicester City after the Foxes recalled the forward from a loan spell at Stoke City in order to sell him on.
However, Sheffield United have also held discussions with Leicester, and from an early stage of negotiations, it was clear that Cannon’s preference was for a move to Bramall Lane.
The Blades are understood to have agreed a deal with the hierarchy at the King Power Stadium, and Cannon’s move should be finalised in the next few days.
Brereton Diaz’s switch to Sheffield United could be completed even sooner, with the Chile international having been another of Sunderland’s leading attacking targets this month.
Again, the Black Cats held talks with the striker’s club, Southampton, but again they found themselves battling against competition from Sheffield United, who were the subject of a successful takeover at the end of last month.
READ MORE:
Regis Le Bris flags up a problem with Sunderland's January striker search
Sunderland's dressing-room reaction after Wilson Isidor's emotional apology
The Blades’ new owners, the American consortium COH Sports, are clearly determined to back Chris Wilder as he attempts to lead the club back to the Premier League, and Brereton Diaz watched Sheffield United’s weekend win over Norwich City from the directors’ box at Bramall Lane.
“We’re close,” said Wilder after the game, when asked about the club’s transfer situation. “We’re close on one that’s been floating about today (Brereton Diaz) and another couple.
“We’re after five new players and I expect to sign them all. We’re close on three, we’re talking to number-one targets, and from a financial and personality point of view, they all want to come and be part of a hopefully successful last 19 games of the season.
“It’s going to be difficult - the registration deadline is 12pm on Monday for Tuesday (when Sheffield United travel to Swansea City) and 12pm on Thursday for Friday (at home to Hull City). But we’ll just work relentlessly as we have done.”
Sunderland’s recruitment team had hoped to pip Sheffield United to the signing of at least one of Cannon or Brereton Diaz, but their efforts look to have been unsuccessful.
In the aftermath of Friday’s goalless draw at Burnley, Regis Le Bris admitted the Black Cats were coming up against intense competition from both within the Championship and overseas as they attempt to address their attacking shortcomings.
They have been linked with Croatian 21-year-old Matija Frigan, who currently plays in the Belgian top-flight with Westerlo, although Le Bris has previously stated that he wants to sign a forward able to hit the ground running in the Championship this month rather than an unproven youngster from overseas who might well take time to settle.
Sunderland’s current attacking options were reduced even further last week when Aaron Connolly was allowed to join Championship rivals Millwall.
