Sunderland may yet sanction one or two last-minute player exits, ahead of tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline.
Sunderland look set for a busy deadline day, with comings and goings both expected at the Stadium of Light.
A new striker seems like the main priority for Michael Beale‘s side; the Black Cats have needed a new no.9 for the last two transfer windows before this, and the case remains the same.
And Sunderland Echo say that if Sunderland do land a new striker today, then sporting director Kristjaan Speakman could let Luis Hemir leave on loan.
Luis Hemir’s early struggles at Sunderland
Hemir joined from Benfica B in the summer.
He showed some positive signs in pre-season and many were thinking that he could hit the ground running in England, but that’s not been the case.
The 20-year-old has featured 14 times in the Championship this season and is yet to record a goal or assist.
But the Portuguese forward has definitely shown signs of potential and a loan move in the second half of this campaign could help him bed into the English game.
League One could be ideal for Luis Hemir
Expect Sunderland to want to loan Hemir to another English club, in a bid to get him acclimatised with the ways of the English game.
But given his age and inexperience, and early struggles in the Championship, a loan move to a top-end League One club could be the best bet for Hemir right now.
There’s definitely a player in there, with former boss Tony Mowbray often speaking highly of Semedo, and with a bit of fine-tuning and regular exposure in the Football League, he could quickly become a class player for the Black Cats.
But it all depends on Sunderland’s transfer business and whether or not they can get a new striker in, so if Hemir does leave, it’ll be right at the death.
Sunderland return to Championship action away at neighbours Middlesbrough this weekend, with kick off at 12pm on Sunday.