PREMIER LEAGUE JAN’S THE MAN FOR SAM £2m Kirchhoff punt

SUNDERLAND fans are keeping their fingers crossed that Sam Allardyce hasn’t signed a “soft German” a week after labelling Jurgen Klopp just that.

The Black Cats were last night on the verge of landing £2m Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchhoff after the 25-year-old arrived on Wearside to finalise terms on a £30,000-a-week deal.

Big Sam is taking a gamble on his first signing, with the injury-prone centre-back having played less than five minutes this season.

The former Germany Under-21 star signed from Mainz in 2013 and played 20 games during an 18-month loan spell at Schalke.

He has only made 10 substitute appearances for Bayern and was out for eight months last year with TOUGH CALL: Jan Kirchhoff is set to sign for Sam Allardyce an Achilles problem. Kirchhoff ’s last action came as a 90th-minute replacement in a German Cup win over Darmstadt in December.

Allardyce dubbed Liverpool boss Klopp a “soft German” when they clashed over Jeremain Lens’ crude challenge on Mamadou Sakho during the Reds’ 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.

Despite Kirchhoff ’s injury record, Big Sam will be hoping that he has landed a ‘tough German’.

He has Younes Kaboul ruled out for up to six weeks, while skipper John O’Shea and Sebastian Coates are struggling with knocks. He said: “We’ve been active in the transfer market for the last three weeks laying the foundations and hopefully we’ll be successful in the next week.

“We’ve had problems at the back all season, but if I can sort that out, we’ve got some goalscorers.

“Getting the defence to work as a solid unit is the way forward for us. It’s important to get new faces in to lift the spirits and make an impact.”

Allardyce has given his players a few days off ahead of a packed schedule and midfielder Yann M’Vila said: “Hopefully it’ll help me get my energy back because I feel like I’ve needed a rest.”