Sunderland are closing in on their first deadline day deal.
Sunderland have a number of players linked with a move to the Stadium of Light on deadline day.
Kristjaan Speakman has brought five new players to Wearside this summer but seems keen on more, with strikers the main focus.
The Black Cats have been keen on Leicester City striker Tom Cannon, though it looks as though Stoke City will win the race for Cannon.
Elsewhere, Alexandre Mendy is staying with Caen, whilst Lyon striker Gift Orban has been mentioned as a possible transfer target, along with Chelsea’s David Datro Fofana.
It’s also said that Sunderland are close to signing Chris Mepham on loan from Bournemouth.
Sunderland close to signing Salis Abdul Samed
But it’s not a striker who’ll become Sunderland’s first deadline day signing; instead, it looks like it’ll be a midfielder.
Sports World Ghana report that Sunderland and RC Lens have agreed a deal for Ghanaian midfielder Salis Abdul Samed to move to Wearside.
On Thursday, it was reported that Samed was undergoing a Sunderland medical.
Now, it’s come to light that Samed is on the verge of becoming Sunderland player, and that he’ll sign a £13k-a-week contract with the Black Cats.
Salis Abdul Samed arriving at Sunderland as Pierre Ekwah moves on
Samed seems like a like-for-like replacement for Pierre Ekwah at Sunderland.
It’s claimed that Ekwah is set to join St Etienne on loan with a view to a permanent deal.
Samed then will have a role to fill in the team, and he’ll be hoping to make more of an impression than Ekwah has done in the last year.
Ekwah boasted great technical ability but didn’t show the desired work-rate, especially so to be competitive in a Le Bris side.
Le Bris may well know Samed from his time in Ligue 1 and for Sunderland, it’s certainly an exciting signing.