BURNLEY, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Regis Le Bris, Manager of Sunderland, looks on ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match between Burnley FC and Sunderland AFC at Turf Moor on January 17, 2025 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Talks ongoing for Sunderland transfer target to seal exit before February 3rd deadline
Sunderland have made just the one January signing so far. But if their last two transfer windows are anything to go by, then we’re bound to see some more new faces arriving at the Stadium of Light before February 3rd.
Sunderland signed Enzo Le Fee on loan from Roma earlier in the January transfer window, getting the Black Cats’ winter business off to a flying start.
Now, Kristjaan Speakman has set himself an extremely high bar for the remainder of Sunderland’s transfer window and for a while, it looked like Tom Cannon could’ve been Sunderland’s next signing.
But Cannon signed for Sheffield United and now the Black Cats seem to be back at square one in their striker search, with a new no.9 to challenge Wilson Isidor looking like the most pressing priority.
Speakman will keep an eye on all positions, although the bulk of players being linked with moves to the Stadium of Light remain attacking players, like Rabbi Matondo at Rangers.
- READ MORE: ‘I don’t care’ – Wilson Isidor proves he’s a class act after Sunderland draw vs Plymouth Argyle
Sunderland handed Rabbi Matondo transfer update at Rangers
Sunderland were linked with Matondo earlier in January. The Welsh international is free to leave Ibrox but for a while, it looked like Matondo was set to join Coventry City. That move eventually fell through, though.
Now, an emerging report from Rangers Review has revealed that Matondo is still ‘expected’ to leave the Gers before deadline day. They add that Rangers ‘remain in talks with multiple suitors’ who want to sign Matondo and that the 24-year-old left-sided attacker ‘retains strong interest’ from the Championship.
So far in the 2024/25 season, former Manchester City youngster Matondo has two goals and two assists in six Scottish Premiership games.
- READ MORE: Michael Graham thinks Sunderland star had an ‘absolute stinker’ vs Plymouth, it’s not Anthony Patterson
Why did Rabbi Matondo’s move to Coventry City fall through?
Coventry City seemingly emerged from nowhere in the race for Matondo, with Frank Lampard’s side looking nailed on to sign the winger at one point.
But multiple updates revealed that Coventry and Rangers couldn’t agree on fees, mainly on bonus payments which has seemingly shut the door on Matondo’s possible move to the CBS Arena.
For Sunderland then, there might be something to learn from Matondo’s failed move to Coventry City.
Despite being keen to offload Matondo, Rangers might be playing hardball over the financials of the deal, and with Sunderland spending big on Le Fee’s wages, whether or not they’d be ready to pay for Matondo remains to be seen.
