Sunderland's move for Paris St Germain midfielder Edouard Michut is in danger of collapse, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano. The Black Cats were expected to complete the signing of the 19-year-old over the weekend on a loan deal with an option to buy and a sell-on clause for the French giants, and he was in the directors' box during Sunderland's game against Norwich City on Saturday afternoon.
But Romano, who has led the coverage of the deal, today said via Twitter that PSG asked for an extra clause to be included in the deal and that Sunderland have declined that request. And Michut is therefore on his way back to France to resume training with the Ligue 1 champions.
Sunderland were one of several clubs said to have expressed interest in Michut, although one of those - Celtic - later ruled themselves out of the running. Michut has made six first-team appeances for PSG, including five last season as the club won the Ligue 1 title.
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But with new boss Christophe Galtier succeeding Mauricio Pochettino over the summer, the France U19 international has not been part of the first team squad so far this term and that has led to talk that PSG would be prepared to let him leave. Meanwhile the Black Cats could also miss out on another of their transfer targets with Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke seemingly now set to stay with the Seagulls.
Sunderland were trying to sign the Dutchman on loan, and it looked like the Black Cats were favourites to land him ahead of Blackburn Rovers, despite the fact that van Hecke had spent last season on loan at Ewood Park. But Brighton boss Graham Potter says it is looking 'less and less' likely that he will be allowed to move on during the transfer window - although he has not entirely ruled out the possibility.
Van Hecke played in Brighton's Carabao Cup win against Forest Green Rovers last week, and then came off the bench at the weekend in the Premier League win against Leeds United. Asked about the chances of a loan move, Potter told SussexLive : "I think there is less and less because he was on the pitch at the weekend so he has been important for us.
"He played well against Forest Green, we really like him. He has been in our squads. When he is a sub for us it means he can help us get points in the Premier League.
"We are in no rush but we will keep thinking about the decision up to the end of the window but at the moment he is with us and he will be with us in the squad tomorrow [Tuesday]."
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