Deals on deadline day are unlikely, admits Parkinson

SUNDERLAND are unlikely to make any permanent signings before tonight’s transfer deadline, according to boss Phil Parkinson.

The EFL domestic window closes at 5pm but a combination of the League One salary cap and the fact EFL clubs last night rejected the Premier League’s £50million bailout offer to help Leagues One and Two means clubs are wary of adding to their outgoings.

Parkinson did not rule out adding a player on loan before the deadline and spoke in more positive terms about the possibility of signing an out-of-contract player which can be done outside the window.

He said yesterday: “I would say it was unlikely there will be any permanent signings before the deadline tomorrow.

“It is more likely there might be a deal for an out-of-contract player next week.

“All managers want to have their squads as strong as they can be but equally owners and chief executives are waiting every day for news from the Government about how this season is going to be funded. It goes without saying there is money going out in terms of wages and travel but there is nothing coming in at the moment.

“We are all waiting to see what kind of help, and what level of help, we might get.”

Parkinson had said he was hoping to add ‘one or two’ new players before the deadline but the fact the return of fans to grounds has not gone ahead as planned and the fact that no bailout has been agreed have made that impossible.

In the meantime, a season-ending injury to centre-back Arbenit Xhemajli and an injury that will sideline Morgan Feeney for another three months have weakened Sunderland’s squad, while the Black Cats’ lack of cover at left wing-back has also been exposed with Denver Hume struggling with a knock ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Swindon Town.

Loans are one option to plug the gap but Parkinson says that is also proving a tough market to navigate.

He added: “The injuries have changed our thought process but the loan market – particularly the players we have targeted – is proving difficult.

“The money we can offer due to the salary cap is not enough to tempt clubs to let players come to us and I think managers are thinking they have a lot of games coming up and it is only 10 weeks until the next transfer window so they are happy to keep their squad together.

“There are players who are out of contract and are not affected by the fact the window closes, they will still be able to sign.

“We are working on things, there are players out of contract we can talk to, and next week things could be clearer in terms of finances.”