Sunderland’s attempts to sign Aston Villa duo Ross McCormack and Tommy Elphick appear to have fallen through.
According to reports this afternoon, McCormack’s potential move to the Stadium of Light fell through after Steve Bruce decided it was not in Villa’s interest to loan a player to a team in the same division. That decision, although unsurprising, will come as a big blow to Simon Grayson, as he had made the Scottish international a priority target.
With the McCormack deal off and a loan move for Jordan Rhodes rejected by Sheffield Wednesday, Grayson will be scrambling around trying to get a last minute deal in to add some much needed quality and depth to the front-line. As yet no new names have been linked to fill that whole in the squad.
McCormack’s Villa team-mate Elphick’s move to Sunderland also fell through after Villa rejected both a loan deal and a £1m offer. A centre back is still expected to join before the window closes with Marc Wilson of Bournemouth the name most regularly mentioned but Manchester City youngster Tosin Adarabioyo also being linked with a loan move.