Cats close in on Winchester signing
Lee Johnson is set to target loan moves from Premier League academies once the arrival of Carl Winchester is sealed.
The Sunderland head coach is hoping to conclude the addition of the Forest Green Rovers midfielder in the near future, strengthening his options in the middle of the park.
With just six months left on his current deal, Winchester emerged as a viable option for the Black Cats in what is set to be a challenging January transfer window.
Johnson did not discuss Winchester in his pre-match press conference yesterday, but confirmed that the club were close to signing a midfielder.
At 27, Winchester will take a space in the club's salary cap group, pushing Sunderland towards the limit of the rules in terms of wages and squad size.
Given that players under the age of 21 are exempt from the squad, and that the Black Cats only have one loanee[Dion Sanderson] currently on their books, it is an obvious avenue for Johnson to explore.
He says he has 'one or two options' lined up from Premier League academies.
Another option for creating space to recruit is to move players out, and there is expected to be outgoing business concluded this month.
Johnson says complications around the salary cap rules mean that is not a straightforward process, however.
"You've got to remember that when you move players out, it doesn't necessarily mean you free up headroom for the salary cap," Johnson said.
"It's almost like the MLS in terms of I'm not even sure they [the EFL] know what the rules are at times and we've had get a lot of clarification this end on that.
"There have been certain scenarios that we've tried to create in our mind's eye that haven't been possible. So we've just got to be patient with that.
"We're hoping to get one in the door [soon] and then we've got a couple of irons in the fire in terms of U21 talents from Premier League clubs," he added.
"They become options to us and then if not, we work with what we've got.
"I think as a coach and a manager you want to know what you can and can't do, and then you just get on with it.
"The conversations our end are very consistent. We have to communicate, we've been left with no recruitment department really, no historic lists, nothing that's been left behind.
"It's therefore about getting on the front foot, using our knowledge and our contacts."
Johnson is hoping to add two or three signings to his squad by the end of the month, and stressed that match fitness will be a key factor in assessing targets.
He's also eager to ensure the squad remains at a manage able size.
"What I' m really keen on not doing is over-filling the squad," he said.
"I can imagine we can go back over time and find a lot of Sunderland squads that are overpopulated.
"That devalues the shirt. You want the squad to be tightknit, so you build a bond and a team spirit.
"My experience of success has always been with a tightknit group. Everyone understands where they sit within the squad, and if it changes it's due to injury or excellent form.
"That creates the competitive environment we're after."