Turkish side Trabzonspor have been offered the chance to sign Sunderland full-back Arthur Masuaku this January, but have decided against pursuing a deal for the experienced defender, according to local reports.
The DR Congo international has made just four appearances for the Black Cats since arriving on a free transfer during the summer window, and prior to him jetting off to take part in the African Cup of Nations earlier this month, speculation had started to mount over the prospect of him leaving the club.
Indeed, in a recent press conference, head coach Regis Le Bris refused to rule out the possibility of a departure, stating: “The most competitive part of our squad is probably the backline, with many good players. They have gained momentum, so for Arthur, even if he is a really good player, he didn’t have many opportunities to play in this squad. But he is still important for us.
“We had a conversation together just before AFCON and we agreed that, in this transfer window, we will have an opportunity to discuss things. But it doesn’t mean that he will leave because we still have to be aligned. If the collective and the individual projects are aligned, it can go like that. If they are not, and we have the opportunity to make a change, then we will see.”
And in a fresh update from continental outlet Gunebakis, it has been claimed that Masuaku’s representatives have contacted Trabzonspor with view to engineering a return to Turkey in the coming weeks. Prior to signing for Sunderland, the 32-year-old had spent three years on the books at Besiktas. But as per this latest report, a decision has already been made, and Trabzonspor have no interest in offering the defender an escape route from Wearside in the new year.
It also remains to be seen whether Masuaku will be fit or not over the coming weeks after DR Congo boss Sebastien Desabre confirmed that the Sunderland talent had sustained an injury during Saturday’s AFCON clash with Senegal. In a press conference on Monday, he said: “Tests revealed that he has a minor ankle sprain. He will miss tomorrow's match [Tuesday’s group stage match vs Botswana]. His injury will be assessed in a few days.”
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Sunderland eye ‘an addition or two’
Elsewhere, Sky Sports have detailed what they believe to be Sunderland’s plans for the January transfer window, suggesting that the Black Cats could look to offload a raft of players, while also bringing in a couple of additions in key areas of the pitch.
Alongside a list of potential departures, including Ian Poveda, Aji Alese, Joe Anderson, Timothee Pembele, Abdoullah Ba, Leo Hjelde, Ahmed Abdullahi, Ben Middlemas, Anthony Patterson, Luke O'Nien, Dan Neil, Sky also claim that the club “are looking to make an addition or two... mainly on the wings, but also possibly a defensive midfielder”.