Sunderland have announced that they have stopped the negotiations to sign Internazionale full-back Davide Santon after the two clubs ran into a disagreement.
Unexpected decision
The former Newcastle United defender had agreed on terms and even travelled to the North East for talks and a medical on Saturday after a fee had been reported to have been agreed.
However, it was announced Friday evening in a short statement by the club that the deal to sign the 25-year-old was off.
"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," they confirmed on their official website.
It is the latest disagreement between the two clubs who have been in a year-long wrangle regarding Ricardo Alvarez, who spent 2014-15 on Wearside on a season-long loan from Inter.
The deal contained a clause which stated that the deal would become permanent if the Black Cats avoided relegation and, after they did, Sunderland tried to call off the deal, claiming that Alvarez was not fit enough to sign after series of injury problems.
With neither club wanting the player, he eventually signed for Sampdoria, but with the matter of who will pay what still being resolved.
Another possible option
Sam Allardyce had thought that Santon would be the answer to his problems in filling the right-back position. Although the Italian played left-back for the Magpies, he is right-footed and would be comfortable in switching to the other side.
He made more than 90 appearances for the Tynesiders over a three-year period before returning to his former club Inter Milan on loan in January 2015.
Sunderland’s first choice right-back was DeAndre Yedlin, but the American international returned to Tottenham Hotspur this summer after a successful season-long loan at the Stadium of Light.
The clubs are fighting over a price for him, with Spurs thought to be asking for around £5 million for the player.