Sunderland interested in Brazil keeper

SUNDERLAND have set their sights on taking Napoli keeper Rafael on loan.

The Brazilian international played under Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez during his spell in charge of the Serie A side.

Rafael, 26, has an Italian passport and Sunderland boss David Moyes is desperate to sign a keeper after first-choice Vito Mannone was ruled out for at least three months with torn elbow ligaments.

England Under-21 international Jordan Pickford, 22, is standing in for the former Arsenal keeper, 28.

Sunderland are also understood to be leading the chase for Sevilla midfielder Vicente Iborra after making a bid for the £7 millionrated Spaniard, 28. But any deal is unlikely to be completed until close to Wednesday’s transfer deadline.

Meanwhile, there is better news on the injury front for Moyes with midfielder Lee Cattermole ahead of schedule in his recovery from a double hernia operation.

Cattermole was expected to be out for between four and six weeks but Moyes said: “Lee has started running again, which is very good. I would say he is ahead of schedule.”