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Mobido Diakite is close to sealing a move back to Serie A with Fiorentina, according to reports in Italy.
The Frenchman only arrived in the summer and has found opportunities difficult to both come by and grasp. With Gus Poyet bringing in Santiago Vergini, Diakite now looks surplus to requirements on Wearside.
Parma and Chievo have been strongly linked with the 26-year-old, but it appears to be Champions League-chasing Fiorentina who have won the race. He has been earmarked as a replacement for the injured Nenad Tomovic.
It is difficult to envisage Diakite being any real loss to Sunderland. Due to his general lack of grace on the ball, you sense he just might be Gus Poyet's sixth-choice centre back right now. It really is best to move him on and see if his wages can be utilised better elsewhere.
No word on whether it is a loan or a permanent deal at the moment, though you'd guess at a loan. Everything seems to be a loan these days. It will be interesting to see if it sets up a potential swap deal with the Viola for Marcos Alonso in the summer, though. That'd be decent.
