Sunderland have completed the loan signing of Senegal striker Dame N’Doye. The forward joins on from Turkish side Trabzonspor and will remain with the Black Cats until the end of the season. N'Doye, their second January signing after Jan Kirchhoff arrived earlier in the window, will wear the number 10.
A move that seemed destined to happen
Rumours began to circulate earlier on in the week that a deal was close, as Sam Allardyce was keen to bolster his attacking options.
Just a few days later and the deal has been made official, granting the manager his wish for a more physically powerful striker.
However, the striker will not be available for their next game against Tottenham Hotspur; he is still completing the final pieces of paperwork in relation to his work visa.
Previous Premier League experience
N'Doye has made has second move to the Premier League in the January window in as many years, having spent the final half of last season with Hull City.
The 30-year-old managed to find the net five times in 15 games but could not prevent the Tigers from being relegated to the Championship.
After leaving England for Trabzonspor, goals have been in short supply and a move back to the top division of English football could rekindle that goalscoring form.
Allardyce has his say on his new signing
Allardyce would have been extremely pleased with how Jermain Defoe has performed recently, scoring five goals in his last two games, but knows some of the burden must be lifted from his shoulders.
Speaking to Sunderland's website on N'Doye's arrival, the manager explained that the Senegalese forward will "bring something different to [Sunderland's] forward options".
He also believes that "having already played in the Premier League" there should be "no problems in hitting the ground running too".
This is something Allardyce sees as "very important", especially given the "stage of the season” they are currently at.