Sunderland Confirm Back Room Overhaul, Plus Three Signings

Sunderland have finally broke the confirmation that former agent Roberto De Fanti is the club's new Director Of Football having given up his license as a player agent, and if you'd used your handy free betting iPhone app a month or two ago you you'd have been quids in with this information.

De Fanti has long been a confident of owner Ellis short, and is strongly rumoured to have had a major say in the appointment of Paolo Di Canio as the team's Head Coach.

The Italian, who formerly represented the likes of John Guidetti and Nigel De Jong, will be bringing along a familiar face as the new Chief Scout at the club, Valentino Angeloni.

The pair worked together at Inter Milan and Udinese in similar roles where they were lauded for landing top emerging talents and creating a system of buying low and selling high on a number of up and coming prospects.

While De Fanti drifted towards agency, Angeloni continued his work at Udinese before moving to Inter Milan in April 2012 where he was tasked with recreating the sterling work he did at the Bianconeri.

The club have also confirmed the bosman signings of FC Basel midfielder Cabral, along with defensive duo Modibo Diakite, formerly of Lazio and Maritimo defender Valentin Roberge.

The three have been linked with the club for some time but this is the first time the club have acknowledged it at all.

It's largely expected that El Hadji Ba will be the next player through the doors, with the player himself confirming on Twitter he will announce his destination today via French magazine L'Equipe, although no news has arrived (read: been noticed) by us yet.