Sunderland fringe player set for January exit after 20-month absence
Sunderland are expected to sanction several exits this January, with one on the verge of completion.
With European football still in sight, Sunderland will be looking to bring in some new quality ahead of the second half of the campaign.
Matteo Guendouzi is among those linked, with the Black Cats also expected to be in the market for attacking reinforcements.
However, to accomodate for those arrivals, several of those who have had gametime restricted will have to be moved on, with one player who hasn't played since April 2024 set to depart on loan.
Timothee Pembele set for Wearside exit
For those who forgot that Timothee Pembele existed, you'd be forgiven, based on the fact that he hasn't featured for the Black Cats in 20 months.
The Frenchman arrived at the Stadium of Light from PSG after the Mackems won promotion from League One, and went on to make just eight first-team appearances.
Pembele joined Le Havre on loan last season, where he made 21 appearances and scored one goal, witha report from Lequipe stating that he is due to return there in January.
The deal could be announced in the coming hours.
It will be a loan exit for the 23-year-old, with no option to make it a permanent deal for the full-back, who still has two-and-a-half years on his Sunderland contract.
Who else is expected to leave Sunderland?
Pembele isnt the only player who has completely fallen off the face of the earth at Sunderland, with the likes of Ian Poveda, Abdoullah Ba and Joe Anderson all failing to even make a matchday squad this season.
The Black Cats will be looking to move them on, with potential loan exits for several others.
Dan Neil and Anthony Patterson are two of last season's regulars who could leave, with Championship sides lining up moves for them.
West Brom have been linked with Neil, who has six months left on his contract, while Southampton and Leicester have been linked with Patterson.
While Sunderland have headroom from a PSR perspective, it's still expected that several players will leave before anyone arrives.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Sunderland news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account –@mackemnews247