Deadline day is upon us, with just hours remaining before the January transfer window closes for Sunderland and clubs in the EFL, Premier League, and across much of Europe. After weeks of rumours, speculation, and chasing shadows, this is the time when backs are against the wall, push comes to shove, and deals are done - or sometimes not.
Buying clubs that have been haggling for the best deal, and selling clubs, players and their agents who have been holding out for more money, are now up against the clock with tonight's 11pm cut-off looming large. At the Academy of Light, sporting director Kristjaan Speakman , head of recruitment Stuart Harvey, and head coach Tony Mowbray, will be working flat out to bring in the players Sunderland need to sustain and strengthen their play-off push.
The Black Cats have picked up two crucial injuries in the last week with influential midfielder and captain Corry Evans ruled out for the remainder of the season with cruciate ligament damage, while the Achilles injury picked up by star striker Ross Stewart in the weekend FA Cup tie at Fulham was a devastating blow. Our Sunderland AFC writer James Hunter takes a look at the state of play as Sunderland go into deadline day, with a reminder of who has arrived, who has left, and the potential deals that could be done before the window closes.
READ MORE: Sunderland face re-run of 1973 FA Cup final 50 years on - if they get past Fulham in fourth round
Ins
Sunderland go into deadline day having already made three additions this month. The Black Cats brought in midfielder Pierre Ekwah from West Ham United for an undisclosed fee, with the 21-year-old signing a four-and-a-half year deal, and he made his debut in Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie at Fulham.
Forward Isaac Lihadji, 20, has joined from French top flight side Lille on a two-and-a-half year contract, also for an undisclosed fee. And on Friday Sunderland completed the signing of 20-year-old Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt on loan for the remainder of the season, having beaten off competition for his signature from several Championship clubs including Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic.
The Black Cats are also understood to be close to signing 21-year-old Everton defender Joe Anderson, with reports over the weekend that he was at the Academy of Light to undergo a medical - although at this point there has been no confirmation of his arrival. But with top scorer Stewart suffering a serious Achilles injury at the weekend that is likely to rule him long-term, Sunderland need to bring in another striker with Gelhardt now the club's only fit centre-forward.
Everton recalled Ellis Simms from his loan spell on Wearside at the beginning of the month and, if he is not part of new Goodison boss Sean Dyche's immediate plans, the Black Cats would love to bring him back to the Stadium of Light. Simms scored seven goals in 17 Championship outings in the first half of the season and would be expected to hit the ground running as he has already worked under Mowbray and alongside the rest of the squad.
Ekwah's move was also in the works before Evans suffered his injury, and it is possible Sunderland might look to bring in another midfielder before the deadline.
Outs
Sunderland have already seen a couple of first-team departures this month. Midfielder Jay Matete was a fringe figure on Wearside and has joined League One pacesetters Plymouth Argyle on loan in order to play regular football.
Germany U21 international winger Leon Dajaku has also barely played this season, and last week he moved to Swiss top flight side St Gallen on loan for the remainder of the season. Also, Sunderland's young U21 defender Nathan Newall has been allowed to join National League North Darlington for the rest of the campaign.
There could be more outgoings on deadline day, particularly when it comes to young players being allowed to go out on loan, but as far as the first team is concerned all eyes will be on Bailey Wright. The Australia international defender has been linked with numerous clubs in the window, including Aberdeen, Hibernian, and most recently Portsmouth.
The centre-back has slipped down the pecking order on Wearside and was absent from the weekend's FA Cup game at Fulham - albeit Mowbray said it was because of a calf injury - and it will be interesting to see if he is still a Sunderland player come 11pm.
READ NEXT:
Sunderland loan signing Joe Gelhardt put football ahead of finance to move to the Stadium of Light
Sunderland defied expectations against Premier League Fulham says goalscorer Jack Clarke
- Sunderland's Anthony Patterson on the advice FA Cup hero Jimmy Montgomery gave him
- Sunderland must face Fulham replay without a striker - even if they sign one before the deadline
- Sunderland's nightmare scenario comes true as Ross Stewart injury overshadows FA Cup draw at Fulham
