Leeds keeper still keen to join Sunderland; deal delayed ‘til deadline day for two good reasons

Sunderland remain hopeful of signing goalkeeper Andy Lonergan ahead of the transfer deadline on Wednesday, but the deal won’t happen until after Tuesday night’s Championship fixtures and such time as Leeds get the nod on their intended replacement.

The 34-year-old is understood to be keen to join the Black Cats and reunite with Sunderland assistant Kit Symons - the man who signed him for Fulham in 2015 - and end his frustrating spell with the Whites. As at this morning, the deal remains very much on.

Lonergan is likely to be on the bench as Leeds travel to Hull City on Tuesday night, unless Thomas Christiansen and his Director of Football at Elland Road, Victor Orta, can engineer a replacement by lunchtime today - the deadline for registering players for the midweek matches.

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Leeds are reported to be keen on Liverpool stopper Adam Bogdan but likewise he won’t be released from Anfield until a new face can be lured to Merseyside. On that front, the Reds have supposedly made an initial bid for Roma’s Brazilian goalkeeper Allison.

That offer is reported to have been turned down but Jurgen Klopp seems to be keener than ever to add fresh goalkeeping talent to his ranks after Simon Mignolet had another stinker as West Brom knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Saturday.

The Black Cats have also been linked to Middlesbrough’s veteran goalie Dimitrios Konstantopoulos who has supposedly asked to leave the Riverside to play some football in his twilight years. The 39-year-old hasn’t featured in the Championship this season, warming the bench behind first choice Darren Randolph.

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Claims over the weekend suggest Sunderland are open to allowing Jason Steele to leave on loan for the rest of the season to rebuild his confidence, and perhaps shift a portion of his reported £15,000-a-week wages.

As with much of the business done in January, any movement will have to wait until the final 24 hours of the window. Tuesday’s seven Championship fixtures and programme of midweek Premier League games hardly helps clubs to get their deals done.