Sunderland are still looking to complete a few deals before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday.
Speaking prior to today's game against Aston Villa, manager Dick Advocaat revealed that, whilst the midfield is complete thanks to the arrival of Ola Toivonen, other areas are not, and there are still some players at the club that they are looking to move on too.
Striker is the "priority"
There has been plenty of speculation regarding Advocaat's attacking targets this summer, with him keen to recruit a target man to suit his preferred 4-3-3 set-up, after admitting that Jermain Defoe cannot lead the line in this formation.
The Sunderland Echo understand that any move for a forward will be regarding a permanent deal, as opposed to adding a third loanee to the club's ranks, whilst the local publication also revealed that Fabio Borini of Liverpool, a former Sunderland loanee, will not join the club - though he does not boast the attributes necessary to play in the aforementioned set-up, anyway.
A number of clubs are in for Borini, including West Ham United, Internazionale and Fiorentina, and, like Jonathan de Guzman, Advocaat is not impressed by his decision to keep his options open, as it shows that the player is not enthusiastic about the chance to join Sunderland.
FC Utrecht's Sébastien Haller has been linked, as has Fenerbahçe's Moussa Sow, following Robin van Persie's arrival. The most recent rumours, however, mainly coming out of Germany, suggest that the Black Cats could make a move for Borussia Dortmund's out-of-favour striker Adrian Ramos, who has failed to make an impact at the club since arriving from Hertha BSC last summer. Yet, he comes with a £7.5 million price tag.
Speaking about bolstering the position, Advocaat said that "a striker is [Sunderland's] priority now for the end of this window" and that they would "still like to do something [up front] if possible."
Defence still in need of improvement
Despite signing three defenders already this window - Adam Matthews, Sebastian Coates and Younes Kaboul - as well as a holding midfielder in Yann M'Vila, Advocaat realises that another defensive player may be required, with the team having shipped 11 goals in their opening four games.
The manager said that, whilst the defence "did really well at the end of the season last year," things have changed since and now "it looks like [the team will] have to start again."
Sunderland were in talks with Manchester City youngster Jason Denayer, who had a sublime spell on loan with Celtic last season, hoping that his parent club would look favourably upon the fact that the Black Cats could offer the 20-year-old Premier League experience - the next step towards him becoming a first team regular at the Etihad.
However, Denayer had offers of European football from Marseille and Galatasaray, and has opted to spend this season on loan with the latter in Turkey. As a result, when the deal goes through, he will face Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Astana in the Champions League group stages, following this week's draw, with the Turkish Super Lig club having a high chance of progressing to the knockout round.
Advocaat admitted recently that he had spoke to Patrick van Aanholt, the Black Cats' left-back who has proven to be the biggest weak link at the back, about his poor performances so far this season, and revealed that, with the club not boasting a back-up for this position, another left-sided defender could be recruited in the transfer window if he failed to improve.
The former-Chelsea man's display against Swansea City was slightly better, but not much, with him still receiving a lot of the blame for the Welsh club's goal in the 1-1 draw, due to him being wildly out-of-position at the time.
Whether or not Advocaat's potential addition at the back will be a left-back remains to be seen, but it would certainly help if the player was at least able to play here if necessary, especially with the versatile Matthews injured for six weeks.
Unwanted players still looking to be shipped out
As well as bringing players in, Advocaat is also looking to get rid of a few before Tuesday's deadline.
Sunderland have financial regulations they have to comply with, regarding their wage bill, and the likes of Emanuele Giaccherini, Will Buckley, Liam Bridcutt, Valentin Roberge and Charis Mavrias are all taking up plenty of this money, despite Advocaat out-casting them to the under-21s.
Speaking about possible departures, the manager said that he is "hopeful that some players will go, to refresh the squad." He believes "it's important to know what group" he is working with, but that the club "still have to wait to see which players will go."
Advocaat was blunt in his advice for the players looking to stay and possibly fight for their place, saying that if they "don't leave" then "they will play for the second team." He believes this a suitable "consequence" for them "if they think it's easy [at Sunderland]."
The Dutchman concluded by saying that "some managers like certain players and others don't," with the unwanted group all being inherited by Advocaat from previous reigns, and, "with all respect," Sunderland "have to get rid of some players" as a result.
Giaccherini is the most likely to leave, with the Black Cats in discussions with Serie A side Bologna regarding a move for the 30-year-old. There are still details to be sorted, with agreements yet to be made over how wages will be paid and whether or not it will be a permanent move, but he is the closest to departing right now.
Buckley and Bridcutt's wages have proven to be a stumbling block for the number of parties interested in the former-Brighton and Hove Albion duo, with their pursuers all coming from the Championship, and thus from clubs who cannot afford to pay players as much as Sunderland.
Greek side Panathinaikos were interested in Mavrias, but put the transfer on hold until later in the window, and this now seems to be off the table with the deadline extremely close, whilst there has been no real story regarding a departure for Roberge.
With less than five days remaining in the window, Sunderland and Advocaat will be keen on completing deals for a striker and a defender, but also on off-loading those deemed surplus to requirements, with plenty of work to be done yet on Wearside.