LATEST TRANSFER ROUNDUP

With less than a week left in the January transfer window, things are starting to slowly progress. However, this is mostly involving players leaving the club rather than new signings arriving, with it being said that SAFC would be content with making no more signings until the end of the season given the current strength of the squad.

MASUAKU OUT

Starting with a move that has been made official, Arthur Masuaku has joined RC Lens on loan until the end of the season. He clearly wasn't going to be playing much for us for the remainder of this Premier League campaign, having fallen behind Reinildo and Dennis Cirkin at left back. Lens are actually competing for the Ligue 1 title, just two points behind PSG as things stand, so with just three Prem appearances to his name with Sunderland this is a good chance for Arthur to play regularly until the end of the season at a really good level. Milan Aleksic was recently recalled from his loan spell at Cracovia in order to facilite this move, Sunderland having already filled their 6 foreign loan spots.

After 32-year-old Masuaku completed the move, Kristjaan Speakman said: “Arthur is naturally keen to play more minutes this season following his return from international duty. We have strong depth in this area of the squad and feel it’s the right move for both the player and club in this moment. We wish him well at Lens, where they have an exciting opportunity this season.”

NEIL OUT

I'll keep this one brief-ish, as you likely read about Dan's exit yesterday. He's joined Ipswich Town on loan until the end of the season, which will bring him to the end of his Sunderland contract. After captaining his boyhood club to play-off glory last season it's a real shame that he hasn't been given many Premier League minutes (he won't get in over Granit, but could he have come off the bench in certain games at least?). A move to Suffolk gives him regular minutes at a good level, and potentially another promotion to his name come the end of the season, which will make him an attractive signing for a club on a free transfer in the summer. Plus, he'll get to see Jack Clarke again. Good luck, Dan!

MAYENDA TO PARIS FC

One rumour which came out of nowhere was that Paris FC were interested in Eliezer Mayenda, and were in talks over a deal for the 20-year-old. However, Sunderland were quick to pour cold water on these French reports according to The i Paper. With Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor the only other options up front, it would presumably take a big-money offer for the club to accept a deal for Mayenda, who has shown so much promise despite struggling for minutes this season.

ISIDOR ALSO LINKED AWAY

Following recent reports that Paris FC were also looking at Wilson Isidor, it has now emerged that the Frenchman is a reported target for Besiktas. Isidor, who has four goals for Sunderland this season but has not found the net since late October, is said to be one of four Premier League players the Turkish side are looking at. French outlet Foot Mercato have claimed that Isidor is seen as a potential replacement for Tammy Abraham, who has recently signed for Aston Villa. If Isidor is seen as the striking replacement, Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and West Ham duo Tomas Soucek and Alphonse Areola are also said to be on Besiktas' shortlist. Just like Mayenda though, it would be strange if Sunderland were to cash in on Isidor without having some kind of replacement already lined up.