Sunderland have taken one big step to offloading one of last season’s key players.

The Black Cats sold Jack Clarke for £15 million last week, but have otherwise done well to keep their senior players at the club.

However, with the arrival of Chris Mepham, Salis Abdul Samed, Milan Aleksic and an unknwon striker expected before the deadline, Sunderland are also set to allow some fringe players to leave.

The biggest name that has been rumoured to be on his way out of the Stadium of Light is Pierre Ekwah, who was a regular in the starting line-up last season.

He has struggled for form for almost a year now though and Regis Le Bris clearly doesn’t fancy him, with the Frenchman failing to feature in their opening three Championship wins.

Sunderland star currently undergoing medical

Saint-Etienne have been reported to be closing in on Ekwah, with reports yesterday claiming he could join on loan with the option to buy for around £6m.

It now looks like the Ligue 1 outfit are close to sealing a deal, with the midfielder currently undergoing a medical.

Foot Mercato journalist Sebastien Denis wrote on X: “Medical examination in progress for Pierre Ekwah in Saint-Etienne.

“If everything is ok, officialization at the end of the day. Loan with purchase option for an amount less than 7 M €”.

Pierre Ekwah wouldn’t have even made the bench this season

It now seems like Ekwah could leave for less than £6m next summer, but it still feels like a reasonable deal for Sunderland.

West Ham’s sell-on clause makes it frustrating, but it is likely that Ekwah wants to leave today and sending him out on loan first isn’t the end of the world.