Pierre Ekwah has taken one huge leap towards leaving Sunderland on Deadline Day.
The Frenchman has long been linked with a move away from Sunderland, but the club were yet to agree to his exit.
The Black Cats had very limited options in the middle of the park last season, and so handed Ekwah 37 starts in the Championship.
He had really struggled for them though, so it came as no surprise when he was forced to settle for a place on the bench in the opening fixtures of the current campaign.
With Sunderland already snapping up Alan Browne, they now look set to seal deals for both Milan Aleksic and Salis Abdul Samed before tomorrow’s deadline.
Ekwah set for initial loan move to Ligue 1
Their new arrivals seem to have encouraged Ekwah to leave the club and it was reported earlier that he had already agreed personal terms with Saint-Etienne.
While Sunderland had placed a £6 million price tag on his head, it now looks like he could leave on an initial loan deal.
Foot Mercato journalist Sebastien Denis wrote on X: “Full agreement between Sunderland and Saint-Etienne for the loan of Pierre Ekwah. Loan with a purchase option of £5.9m”.
Sunderland fans shouldn’t panic about not making any profit just yet
While Ekwah won’t be leaving permanently this summer, it actually seems like a very good deal for Sunderland.
The 22-year-old ‘Rolls-Royce’ is able to leave and try and rediscover his form, while Samed stays on Wearside for his own loan spell.
Saint-Etienne may decide against signing him permanently, in which case the Black Cats can move him on elsewhere or keep him to replace his own replacement in Samed.
If they do decide to buy him, then Sunderland are making up the price tag they had placed on him this summer.
It definitely seems like a sensible decision and fans will be hopeful that Ekwah can find his feet again in Ligue 1 after a difficult year in the Championship.
When at his best, the midfielder was pretty much unplayable and it seems almost guaranteed that he will shine in France.
Samed seems like a brilliant replacement too, so it appears to be a deal that leaves everyone happy.