Plenty of Irons in the fire

SUNDERLAND are looking at options in the loan market before the end of the transfer window, Gus Poyet has confirmed.


The Black Cats have brought seven players to the Stadium of Light so far this summer, yet Poyet is still looking for further recruits, with the head coach keen for a squad of around 23 first-teamers after the transfer deadline.

Several of those arrivals could be loans after Poyet admitted Sunderland came close to taking Chile international Eduardo Vargas on a season-long loan earlier this week, before he joined QPR.

When asked about loans, Poyet said: “Yes, of course it’s a market.

“We’re waiting. There’s plenty of rumours in there, but we’re waiting for the opportunity and if it’s possible for them to come.

“It’s not only us. There’s other teams waiting in there.”

One of those loans could be Fabio Borini, if a £14million move to re-sign the Liverpool striker falls through.

It has been a more than a month since Sunderland’s offer was accepted by Liverpool, with the Black Cats’ chances of landing the Italian growing increasingly slim.

But Poyet insists the deal is not a dead one yet.

“Nothing has changed. It’s the same as last week,” he said.

“It’s still on, nothing has changed for good or for bad. We’re still trying.”

Poyet is also keen to strengthen his options at the back after just four defenders were available for last weekend’s Premier League opener against West Brom.

But Santiago Vergini, who was unavailable at the Hawthorns, will return to the fold, while fellow new signing Billy Jones is fit-again after training this week.

“We’re a bit short at the back and we’re looking at options,” said Poyet.

“He (Vergini) was not available, he’s available now and Billy Jones is back.

“I was not expecting to start with that back four, but that’s football, you need to adapt.”

 

Waiting, waiting, hanging about. This is the same bloke who wanted players in at the beginning of the window. The way it`s going we won`t be getting them in by the end of it.

Sometimes I despair of this lot.

Is it impossible for them to get their collective bloody fingers out?

 

Poyet wanted them in as early as possible but he's not in control of player recruitment so we can't blame him. It was a naive statement as its led some fans to believe we've failed this transfer window. The truth is that the last week is always busy and one big deal starts the domino effect.

Im confidant we'll get 3 players in.

 

Yes but will they be any good?