According to reports in this morning's Sunderland Echo, Sunderland have headed to Africa once again in search of talent and taken Zambian defender Stoppila Sunzu on trial.
This isn't the first time the defender, who won the African Cup Of Nations with Zambia in 2012, has been linked to a move to the Premier League as it was believed Reading had a deal for him tied up during the summer transfer window last year only to see the deal fall through.
Back then there was disagreement between himself and his club TP Mazembe as to his availability, and no Sunzu insists that he's a free agent, despite the Congolese champions claiming he is under contract until 2015 and valued in the region of £3-4m.
It's doubtful that a fee near that would have to be paid to Mazembe for the player, with something more in the £1-2m range more likely given his problematic nature to the side, and the general going rate for players straight out of Africa.
With Titus Bramble and Matt Kilgallon both likely to see their current deals expire without being extended at the end of the season, plus uncertainty about Wes Brown's playing days, it makes sense to look elsewhere and at more frugal options.Sunderland have taken Zambian central defender Stoppila Sunzu on trial.
Sunzu should pass for a work permit with ease having played 37 games for his country, including two AFCON's in the last two years. In the 2012 tournament he scored the winning penalty in the famous penalty shoot-out final victory over Ivory Coast.