Tony Mowbray says there is a 'developing' transfer situation at Sunderland with the club holding a recruitment meeting this afternoon. The Black Cats are keen to bring in players this month, with at least one striker to replace Ellis Simms - who was recalled by Everton from his loan spell on Wearside at the start of the month - and also a midfielder to replace Jay Matete, who was allowed to join Plymouth on loan last week, right at the top of their wishlist.
Mowbray was due to take part in a meeting this afternoon along with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, head of recruitment Stuart Harvey, and others, for an update on the latest situation. "We have a recruitment meeting this afternoon, all the recruitment staff are in, and we'll be going through where we are on certain enquiries," said Mowbray.
"This one was thrown in [the diary] yesterday because something is developing and we need to discuss it and see what we all think. There are some other options come up in different positions which we all get sent to us and we study them on our laptops, and then we'll have an opinion on which road we think we can go down.
READ MORE: Sunderland set to welcome back two key men to their squad ahead of Swansea City clash
"Do we need a [number] six? Do we need a [number] eight? Ideally we have a guy who can do both."
Sunderland have yet to bring in any new additions this month but Mowbray knows that patience, rather than panic-buying, is the key to a successful window. He said: "Like every window, it's very rare thhat you have got all your ducks lined up and you just sign players from Day One.
"We are working hard, conversations have been had, but not necessarily by me. It's basically a case of finding our where we are with certain potential deals.
"They are generally drawn-out situations where you want to get somebody as cheaply as you can, and they want as much money for their player as they can get, and that's how it works - somewhere inbetween there's a number that ticks both sides' boxes."
And, asked if he is confident he will get the players he needs, he said: "Are we confident? I think we'll sign some players. Some players have gone out on loan and some players might go out on loan.
"It's not wise to come out of the transfer window less well-off than you were going into the transfer window, so we know that we need to replace some of the players that we've allowed to go out on loan to develop. We want to come out of the window feeling stronger than we were going into it."
READ NEXT:
- Sunderland's Tony Mowbray in the running for Championship manager of the month award
- Sunderland star Trai Hume sends warning to team-mates ahead of Swansea City clash
- Bailey Wright a 'great asset' amid recent run in Sunderland starting XI
- Free agents Sunderland could target to save millions in January
- Louis Saha opens up on Sunderland regret as he makes Premier League admission
