Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce and his scouting outfit have made a last-gasp trip to Europe ahead of the final week of the January transfer window.
New faces
The Black Cats have been linked with a number of names over the past few weeks but with just one week left they have only managed to bring three players into the Stadium of Light; Jan Kirchoff, Dame N’Doye and Steve Harper.
It looks Allardyce means business as he looks to potentially bring in two new faces to help boost the clubs dwindling survival hopes. The 1-1 draw with fellow relegation candidates AFC Bournemouth increased the gap from safety to four points.
The manager traveled to Europe on Sunday to view a potential target and it is believed that he will meet with his scouting team over the next 24 hours to discuss his findings.
He told the Shields Gazette that he left on Sunday to “somewhere in Europe” and that they will meet “today and tomorrow” and “try to nail” down the target.
He added that “every waking hour” for those in his recruitment team to “look at as many players” as they possibly can.
Recruitment essential
Sunderland have been busy with potential signings particularly with Swansea City's Andre Ayew and it is reported they will make a fresh move for Lorient’s right-back Lamine Gassama ,who rejected advances from the North East club earlier in January.
Allardyce highlighted the importance of recruits with a tough few weeks ahead taking on Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and former club West Ham.
He said that they have to get “more players” of the “right quality” that can help in the fight to “escape the bottom three”.
Allardyce added that his job is to “strengthen the side” and “increase the quality” and that they have to “get points from somewhere”, which might have to be against one of the “big boys” but believes that is something they can “achieve”.
