SAFC Paper Talk #13

Sunderland appear to have agreed a deal to sign Bursaspor's defensive midfielder Alfred N'Diaye but say that the French U21 international's arrival is not imminent.

The 22 year-old central midfielder-cum-centre-back is free to talk terms with the Black Cats after a fee was agreed between the two clubs.

A fee of around £3m has been agreed for N'Diaye's services, but contrary to reports the Parisian is yet to agree terms or pass a medical.

According to The Sunderland Echo, N'Diaye will travel to the North East today (Monday) to undergo a medical and talk personal terms with the club's hierarchy.

Standing at an imposing 6'2, N'Doye has made just 37 appearances for Bursaspor after joining the Turkish outfit from Ligue 1 side Nancy in 2011.

N'Diaye made 61 appearances for Nancy during his three-year stay at the club.

Another man who is not as close to signing for the Black Cats as reports suggest is Hungarian centre-half, Roland Juhasz.

Reports over the weekend suggested that a deal worth anywhere between £950k and £2m had been agreed for the 29 year-old.

However the reality is that there has been no approach from Sunderland for the Anderlecht defender, who has himself expressed an interest in moving to the Stadium of Light.

Juhasz has won 76 full Hungary caps and would bring a wealth of experience to a frail backline which has suffered thanks to injury problems.

There is also talk in terms of departures, with backup goalkeeper Keiren Westwood the latest man to be linked with a move to Hull City.

It was current Tigers' boss Steve Bruce who took the 28 year-old Republic of Ireland international from Coventry City in 2011, but Westwood has largely played second-fiddle to Simon Mignolet.

Speaking to The Hartlepool Mail, Martin O'Neill admitted he would be reluctant to let anyone leave the club:

"The fact is I`m very reluctant to let anyone go because we simply don`t have the back-up,' stated the Ulsterman.

"My situation is that I have a very good goalkeeper in reserve, but it is hard to drop Simon Mignolet when he is playing so well.'

One deal that has been completed is the loan extension of young winger, Billy Knott.

The 20 year-old has been on-loan at Blue Square Premier outfit Woking this season and has now extended his loan deal until February.