SAFC TransferWipe: NEW Premier League left-back linked; brings fresh doubt over van Aanholt future

Club Must Act, Ten Days Left

Yesterday's defeat has done nothing to abate any pressure on Sunderland to act in the transfer market. Large swathes of supporters are now on the brink of finally turning against the hierarchy at the club and are growing increasingly frustrated with manager David Moyes.

Premier League status is slipping away as Moyes oversees what is looking like it may yet become a slump akin to the win-less run of ten games at the start of the season. Sunderland are now without victory in the last seven - five in the Premier League and two in the FA Cup.

If the loss at West Bromwich Albion showed glimmers of improvement compared with the performances against Stoke City and Burnley, Sunderland were still a way off giving the Baggies anything much to worry about.

With no game now until the evening that the transfer window shuts, the club has but ten days to do something to restore a little faith.

The mood may yet turn ugly at the Stadium of Light a week on Tuesday when a rampant Tottenham Hotspur are the visitors, without some significant movement in the market. A failure to land two or three new faces - no matter much wheeling and dealing is required - will be seen by many as the club accepting the fate of relegation.

With little cash to spend and prospective targets not likely keen on risking their career prospects on a club dismally slipping into the Championship, the task is not an easy one. But nor is it any longer a mission for the dithering, word-playing, excuse-making scenes which have been played out so far during the transfer window at Sunderland.

So, with that in mind - here's an intriguing link.

Bryan Oviedo - Everton, Left Back / Left Midfield

Sunderland are interested in taking Bryan Oviedo from Everton according to fresh reports which appear to originate in France.

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

The Costa Rican left-back has seen his chances at Goodison Park hampered by the longevity of Leighton Baines and lengthy spells out through injury including a serious leg break in 2014.

He was signed by David Moyes four-and-a-half years ago from F.C. Copenhagen in in a £5m deal.

Oviedo missed appearing for Costa Rica at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as a result of his eight month lay-off through that double leg fracture suffered in an FA Cup tie against Stevenage.

A veteran of over 30 international appearances, Oviedo is keen to reignite his flagging Premier Leagie career.

The 26-year-old has only managed six appearances this season under Ronald Koeman, making just two starts. Oviedo wasn't in the squad when Everton visited the Stadium of Light in September and he was an unused substitute for their trip up here in May last year.

A little over a week ago, Oviedo was quoted expressing his frustration at not being given an opportunity at Everton since Koeman took charge and said, "I think about the option of joining another club, where I could play more regularly". Could Sunderland be that club?

What About Patrick van Aanholt Then?

Sunderland's current first choice left-back Patrick van Aanholt managed another poor performance at the Hawthorns yesterday as he was tortured by West Brom winger Matt Phillips.

The Dutchman has put in a string of below-par showings in the last few weeks, appearing to have been affected by intense transfer speculation about his future.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Sunderland are thought to have already turned down two bids for the 26-year-old and on Friday new Crystal Palace boss, Sam Allardyce, confirmed he is still interested in reuniting himself with van Aanholt.

Big Sam is growing increasingly frantic in the transfer market as he hunts for defensive reinforcements to halt the dreadful opening sequence of results at Selhurst Park which has seen his new club drop into the bottom three.

Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images

Would David Moyes be tempted to cash in van Aanholt and seek a more reliable left-back? The Dutchman brings goals and attacking threat to the table at the Stadium of Light, but for all his purpose going forward, the payback in weakness at the back may convince Sunderland that now is the right time to sell.

For the player, a reunion with Allardyce might just get him back to his best - which he managed during Big Sam's tenure at the Stadium of Light.