Sunderland set to sanction another loan to near neighbours after Niall Huggins exit
Sunderland have a lot of work to do when it comes to offloading players in the final hours of the window.
Lutsharel Geertruida and Brian Brobbey are closing in on moves to Sunderland, though a lot of the focus has been on outgoings.
As a result of the Black Cats' summer business, they have had to axe several players from the squad, with Patrick Roberts set to join Birmingham on loan.
Niall Huggins is also expected to join Wycombe for the season, with another senior exit expected before the deadline.
Alan Browne set for Middlesbrough transfer
Sunderland have brought four new midfielders in this summer, with Granit Xhaka shining at the Stadium of Light.
Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki are the other arrivals, and that has made it difficult for Alan Browne to find any source of gametime under Regis Le Bris.
It seemed like Browne would be one of the first to leave Sunderland, and according to Dominic Shaw, Middlesbrough are set to win the race.
Millwall, Preston and several other Championship clubs are believed to have shown an interest in the Irish international, who only made the move to Sunderland last summer.
Despite his lack of involvement this season, Browne played an influential role in the Championship and will certainly be a good pickup for Rob Edwards' side.
Dan Neil now surely set for Sunderland stay
Dan Neil has also been linked with an exit from Sunderland this summer, though with Browne heading out, it is hard to see that one being sanctioned.
Sunderland will lose Diarra and Sadiki to AFCON in December, and Neil will have a crucial role to play in the Premier League over that period.
It would leave Xhaka, Neil, Chris Rigg and Enzo Le Fee to fight it out for a place in Le Bris' starting midfield, and while that is a huge drop in quality, they are still good options to have for a newly-promoted side.
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