No Santon for Sunderland but Sakho move could be getting closer

Sunderland face a search for another right-back solution after a proposed £3million move for Davide Santon fell through at the 11th hour.
Davide Santon: pictured in his Newcastle United daysDavide Santon: pictured in his Newcastle United days
Davide Santon: pictured in his Newcastle United days

The Black Cats had been expected to confirm the capture of the ex-Newcastle United defender from Inter Milan yesterday after he arrived in the North East to undergo a medical.

However, Sunderland confirmed they had ended their pursuit of the 25-year-old after a breakdown in talks with Inter.

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“Sunderland AFC will not be pursuing its interest in Inter Milan player Davide Santon, after negotiations between the two clubs failed to reach a positive conclusion,” said the one-line statement last night.

Despite reports in Italy that Santon rejected a Sunderland contract due to a wage reduction clause in the event of relegation, it is thought that the move collapsed due to issues between the two clubs.

Sunderland have history with Inter after pulling out of a permanent move for Ricky Alvarez last summer – a dispute which arbitrators FIFA are yet to resolve to a satisfactory conclusion.

The collapse of the deal leaves Sunderland still needing to urgently address the issue of a new right-back after the exit of last season’s loanee DeAndre Yedlin.

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Santon would have provided a cost-effective solution to that area and has Premier League appearance after making almost 100 appearances for Newcastle.

However, Sunderland’s hoping of bringing in a new striker have received a boost after main target Diafra Sakho submitted a transfer request at West Ham.

West Ham have been prepared to sell Sakho, but they have put any move on ice until a replacement frontman arrives.

However, the 26-year-old – absent from West Ham’s pre-season trip to America because of illness – is not prepared to wait that long and wants his future resolved, hence his formal request to leave the club.

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Allardyce has been desperate to bring in a quality frontman this summer to either use alongside or instead of last season’s top scorer Jermain Defoe and is prepared to spend big.

The Cats will have to shell out around £15m to land Sakho – which would break Sunderland’s club record transfer fee.