Transfer Window Update

We are halfway through the January transfer window already but with just two completed deals so far, the second half of the window is expected to be very busy. With that in mind we are going to take a look at the rumoured incomings and outgoings and rank them according to how likely we think they are.

Completed Deals

Incoming

Marcos Alonso - Left Back

The only signing brought in so far, on loan from Fiorentina, Alonso has had an excellent start to his Sunderland career. Performing well in both games so far, wins over Manchester United and Fulham, he looks to be a significant improvement over the other players we have tried there this season.

Outgoing

Cabral - Central Midfield

After falling out of favour very early in the season, Cabral has completed a loan move to Serie A side Genoa in the hopes of playing first team football. Made his debut at the weekend but was on the losing side as Roma comfortably won 4-0.

Looking Most Likely

Incoming

Mariano Andujar - Goalkeeper

Poyet has not only said that a new goalkeeper is a priority in January but has also admitted that he's a fan of Catania's Argentinian goalkeeper Andujar. Real Betis have also been linked but Catania rejected their loan offer for the 30-year-old.

Santiago Vergini - Centre Back

Gus Poyet has confirmed our interest in the 6'3" defender who has one cap for Argentina. Recent reports suggest there was a slight hiccup after Estudiantes asked for more money but that is unlikely to derail a transfer that is getting closer to the finishing line.

Liam Bridcutt - Central Midfield

Bridcutt has been consistently linked with a move to join up with his former manager at Brighton ever since Poyet was appointed head coach. Sunderland are reported to have had a bid rejected for the holding midfielder and the player himself has had a transfer request rejected. Despite those set backs, expect the club to continue to push for one of Poyet's top targets.

Will Buckley - Winger

As well as Bridcutt, Sunderland have also been linked with a move for his Brighton team-mate Buckley. The 24-year-old winger was also reported to have been the subject of a rejected bid from Wearside. Buckley is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury which could keep him out for the entirety of the transfer window.

Ignacio Scocco - Striker

A player we were also interested in during the summer before he signed for Internacional, Scocco has reappeared as a Sunderland target after failing to settle at the Brazilian side. The Porto Alegre side have said he is free to leave as long as they recover their initial investment. His expected destination is Europe (despite interest from his former club Newell's Old Boys, and River Plate), with his agent confirming our interest along with that of Spanish side Valencia and Scocco's father claimed a move to Wearside is 'most likely'.

Outgoing

Valentin Roberge - Centre Back

With Vergini coming in, at least one of Roberge, Modibo Diakite and Carlos Cuellar look likely to leave. The closest to the exit is Roberge, with Real Betis hoping to sign the French defender but Liga Adelante side Hercules have also shown interest.

Craig Gardner - Central Midfield

Gardner has never really forced his way into the Sunderland side in his favoured central midfield position and doesn't look suited to Poyet's more progressive style of play. With the player being out of contract in the summer, he has looked increasingly likely to leave the club for a return to the Midlands and it may be that he leaves the club during this window, with West Brom the latest club to show an interest in the 27-year-old.

David Vaughan - Central Midfield

Currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, the Welsh international could complete a oermanent move to the City Ground before the window closes, with Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi revealing on Twitter that the club are working hard to wrap up the deal.

Steven Fletcher - Striker

Although regularly praised by Poyet, press reports have continued to insist that Sunderland would be willing to sell last season's top scorer. Hull, Celtic, Fulham and Tottenham have all been linked with a player who has looked a shadow of his former self since returning from injury and with the Scottish international struggling to adapt to Sunderland's new style, it wouldn't be a surprise if he made way to make room for a player who may fit the system better.

Possiblities

Incoming

Julio Cesar - Goalkeeper

Harry Redknapp confirmed that Sunderland had made contact with QPR over the possibility of signing Cesar a few weeks ago but he hadn't heard from us since. That may change nearer the end of the window if we are still searching for a new goalkeeper.

Jack Baldwin - Centre Back

The young Hartlepool defender has been on Sunderland's radar for awhile, with scouts from Wearside regularly watching the 20-year-old. A move in January is a possibility for a player who would initially go into the development squad.

Diego Poyet - Central Midfield

The son of the head coach is another who has been continually linked with a move to the Stadium of Light since his father took over. It would not be a surprise to see him follow Poyet Sr. to Sunderland.

Maxi Lopez - Striker

The Gazzetta dello Sport linked Lopez with a possible move to Sunderland yesterday. According to the report Sunderland have have made an enquiry with Catania for the Argentine striker

Outgoing

Modibo Diakite - Centre Back

With Wes Brown and John O'Shea cemented as Sunderland's first choice partnership at the back and the likely arrival of Vergini, Diakite could soon follow Cabral through the exit. Serie A sides Verona, Sampdoria and Sassuolo are all believed to be tracking the Bosman signing from Lazio.

Carlos Cuellar - Centre Back

Out of contract in the summer, Cuellar could leave before the end of the window. Watford are believed to be interested in signing him this month, with Juventus rumoured to be amongst the clubs hoping to sign him on a Bosman transfer in the summer.

Ji Dong-Won - Striker

Regularly linked with a return to the Bundesliga where he impressed on loan to Augsburg, Ji is also out of contract in the summer and could leave this month, with Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg all interested in the Korean.

Connor Wickham - Striker

Although impressing on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, where he has 8 goals in 10 games so far, it's believed Poyet would be willing to sell Wickham, with Nottingham Forest mentioned as his most likely destination if a permanent transfer does materialise.

Unlikely

Incoming

Ki Sung-Yueng - Central Midfield

Despite Poyet's recent comments about hoping to sign Ki on a permanent basis, it's unlikely that we will use the limited funds we have during this window will be used to push through a permanent move for an on loan player. Expect a push to sign him in the summer, if we stay up, but not quite yet.

Alfred N'Diaye - Central Midfield

Despite mulling it over, Poyet has decided against recalling the popular Senegalese midfielder from his loan at Turkish side Eskisehirspor.

Nigel De Jong - Central Midfield

Linked in the Italian press in the last week, De Jong's wages will surely mean he is out of Sunderland's reach. Despite formerly being on the books of Roberto De Fanti, it's debatable whether we'd be interested in another midfield destroyer with Lee Cattermole already on the books.

Charles N'Zogbia - Winger

No window would be complete without N'Zogbia being linked with Sunderland and this window is no exception. However the player is on wages of around £60,000 and is currently sidelined with an achilles tendon injury, which Paul Lambert said is likely to keep him out for some time, both of which should make this one a no-go.

Shaun Wright-Phillips - Winger

Linked with Sunderland a couple of weeks ago, Wright-Phillips seems a very unlikely transfer target for Poyet. Redknapp has admitted that it's been a struggle to offload the winger due to his high wages, which is the type of comments that is likely to make Sunderland steer well clear.

Andrew Johnson - Striker

Surprisingly linked with a move to Wearside at the weekend, the goal shy striker is unlikely to get a move to the Stadium of Light. Injury prone, ageing and on high wages are all sure to mean he is not on our radar.

Danny Graham - Striker

Like N'Diaye, Poyet considered recalling Graham from his loan spell at Steve Bruce's Hull City but ultimately decided against it.

Adrian Ramos - Striker

The top scorer was linked to a move to Sunderland in German newspaper Bild, however any potential move for the Colombian would be for the Summer transfer window as the player doesn't currently qualify for a work permit.

Outgoing

Emanuele Giaccherini - Winger

Despite being linked with a return to Juventus or a move to Cabral's Genoa, his agent has confirmed that Giaccherini will be remaining at the Stadium of Light until the end of the season at least.

Adam Johnson - Winger

Although the club would probably sell if any club offered enough, that scenario seems unlikely and the weekend's hat-trick hero is likely to remain on Wearside. Poyet has pinpointed Johnson as a key man as Sunderland seek to confirm our Premier League status.

Fabio Borini - Striker

The on loan Italian striker has been linked with a Serie A return in recent weeks but his agent has reiterated that he will see out the season at Sunderland before returning to Liverpool.

Others

We may also see Jack Colback, Seb Larsson and Phil Bardsley leave during this window. All three are out of contract in the summer and if we get a suitable offer in time for us to find a replacement, we may see them depart the club.

Expect loan deals for many of our young players in the second half of the season. Billy Knott was today recalled from his loan at Wycombe but is expected to go straight back out on loan, this time to Port Vale. Liam Agnew and Liam Marrs are both on loan at Boston United, while Mikael Mandron has joined Fleetwood Town on loan until the end of the season.

With Ba and Watmore impressing in the FA Cup, we could see them go on loan to continue their development. Although the rumour linking Watmore with Gateshead was false, we believe a loan move to another local side could be on the agenda.

Jordan Pickford may go out on loan once again as and when a new senior 'keeper signs and Charis Mavrias and David Moberg Karlsson could also see loan spells to gain first team experience.

Stay tuned to Roker Report throughout January as we keep you up to date with his and all other transfer news and rumours. Also, feel free to keep in touch with our dedicated Transfer Centre, which you can do by CLICKING HERE!