Sunderland’s busy end to transfer window with £21m move and deals in balance as medical booked
Sunderland deadline day latest as Simon Adingra set for exit
Simon Adingra of Sunderland celebrates scoring his first goal for the club
Sunderland will look to recoup the majority of the £21million fee they paid Brighton for Simon Adingra if the winger completes a move to AS Monaca before the transfer deadline.
The Black Cats are in talks with the French outfit for a deal which will see Adingra head out on loan to Monaco for the rest of the campaign. Adingra is set to have a medical in London with the Ligue 1 club ahead of a potential agreement.
The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international only joined Sunderland in the summer, signing a five-year deal at the Stadium of Light following his big-money move from Portsmouth.
He has been unable to hold a regular place in Regis Le Bris’s starting XI and missed out on a place in Ivory Coast’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. Sunderland have a number of options in wide areas.
Romaine Mundle, Chemsdine Talbi fit, Bertrand Traore, Eliezer Mayenda, Chris Rigg and Enzo Le Fée are all capable of playing wide left, while January signing Jocelin Ta Bi is another option.
Monaco, who face Paris St-Germain the next stage of the Champions League in a fortnight, face a race against time to complete the deal before the 7pm deadline but are keen to get the signing completed. Adingra has also been linked with European giants Real Madrid and Juventus this month.
It has been reported that Sunderland will secure a seven-figure loan fee with an option-to-buy clause which, if triggered, would see Sunderland recoup most of what they paid Brighton to sign him in the summer.
The deal is dependent on Adil Aouchiche concluding a move to Bundesliga 2 side Schalke. The attacking midfielder currently takes up one of the club’s permitted six international loan slots.
Aouchiche has impressed at Aberdeen but has been recalled ahead of a potential permanent departure to the highflying league leaders, who are pushing for a return to the German top flight.
One deal that has already gone through today is defender Leo Hjelde’s move to Sheffield United on loan.
The 22-year-old is back fit after surgery on his Achilles last summer. Hjelde has made 30 appearances for the Black Cats and was part of last season’s promotion-winning campaign on Wearside.
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said: “Leo is motivated to play games, and we wanted to ensure his next opportunity matched his ambitions and our own. We know Sheffield United well and feel this can be a positive collaboration for all three parties. We wish Leo the best of luck for the second half of the season.”
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