Cats head coach reiterates stance on Wolves loanee
Lee Johnson is confident that Dion Sanderson will remain at Sunderland for the rest of the season.
Wolvesstillhavetheoption to recall the 21-year-old, who initially struggled for game time after joining on deadline day earlier this season.
CardiffCity,whereSandersonplayedonloanlastseason, reportedlyenquiredlastweek about the possibility of bringing the defender to South Wales before the end of the window.
That move was rejected, and the Bluebirds have subsequently moved close to the additions of Crewe Alexandra and Bournemouth defenders Perry Ng and Jack Simpson.
Johnson had revealed earlier this month that he had held a productive discussion with Wolves over Sanderson's future shortly after taking the Sunderland job, and remains confident that all parties remain happy with the current arrangement.
"AsfarasI'maware,Dionis happy, Wolves are happy and we're happy," Johnson said.
"I think while you've got three happy parties.. everybody has bought into Dion's development in the right way.
"He's done well and he's got a lot of potential.He's part of our squad and ready to go whenever we need him."
Sandersonsaidearlierthis month that he was happy to stay on Wearside for the rest of the campaign.
"I'm playing now and getting experience which is what I need - to get as much experience as I can," he said.
"Hopefully I can achieve my goal of playing in the Premier League for my home club.”
Johnson remains in the market for more additions to his Sunderland squad, and is anticipatingatleastonearrival before the end of the window.
The Sunderland head coach is not anticipating any imminent moves, with negotiations largely in the hands of CEO Jim Rodwell and Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman.
Johnson says the club are 'inthemix'foranumberoftargets and that the picture can change quickly.
"We're in the mix," he said. "These things can seem a longwayoffbutthelandscape quickly changes and all of a sudden someone is on their way for a medical.
"There are players who are aware of our interest, there's agents and clubs aware of our interest.Whether or not we can get them over the line is probably out of my hands, I'd say I'm more talent ID in the process here, than anything else.”