Johnson closing in on a loan deal for ex-Celtic and Boro attacker
Sunderland are said to be in talks to sign Manchester City playmaker Patrick Roberts on loan.
The 24-year-old has been loaned out to several clubs, including Celtic, Norwich and Middlesbrough, during his time at City but has made just three senior appearances for the Premier League champions.
Following a loan spell at Derby last season, Roberts joined French club Troyes in the summer but is reportedly ready to cancel his contract with just one Ligue 1 appearance to his name.
According to Football Insider, Sunderland have agreed to sign the attacker on loan until the end of the season.
The report also claims Roberts was at the Stadium of Light to watch Thursday’s 5-0 win over Sheffield
Wednesday.
Sunderland already have five loan players, including Thorben Hoffmann, Leon Dajaku, Callum Doyle, Nathan Broadhead and Frederik Alves.
While there is no limit on the number of players clubs are allowed to sign on loan, they are only allowed a maximum of five in a matchday squad.
Reports last week stated that Sunderland were set to step up their interest in Linfield’s Trai Hume with the defender available for around £200k.
The Northern Ireland youth international is set to leave the Blues next month with Linfield boss David Healy commenting on the situation.
Lincoln City have reportedly tabled a bid for the highly-rated 19-year-old with
Burnley and Ipswich Town also said to be interested.
Linfield rejected a number of cash offers that were thought to be in excess of £100,000 for the right-back during the summer.
Celtic were also linked with a deal for Hume last summer but a recent report in the Belfast Telegraph stated that Sunderland are ‘primed to make their move’ during the January window.
Linfield boss and former Sunderland man Healy recently admitted that it was highly unlikely teenage defender Hume would still be a Blues player come the end of January.
Asked if there’s a chance the versatile defender won’t be at Linfield after January, Healy replied: “I would imagine so if somebody is going to agree terms with the football club.”