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After only signing a six-month deal when he arrived at the club on a free transfer from Almeria in January, Oscar Ustari's contract at Sunderland is about to expire and according to reports in Italy, Serie A side Lazio are hoping to sign the Argentinian on a free transfer.
The report claims that Ustari doesn't want to spend another season as second choice, after he only made three appearances for Sunderland (all in the FA Cup), and with Lazio having doubts over the performances of their regular number one Etrit Berisha, they have turned their attentions to Ustari as a cost effective alternative to the Albanian international.
Ustari kept a clean sheet in two of his three FA Cup appearances, in 1-0 wins over Kidderminster Harriers and Southampton, and despite conceding three in the quarter-final against Hull, impressed with a penalty save from Sone Aluko. However the 27-year-old didn't make a single appearance in the league and spent the remainder of the season on the bench behind Vito Mannone.
Should Ustari depart Sunderland, it will leave Vito Mannone and Jordan Pickford as the only senior goalkeepers at the club with Keiren Westwood also out of contract and will almost certainly lead to Gus Poyet and Lee Congerton seeking a new senior goalkeeper.
Stay tuned to Roker Report throughout the summer 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.
