Port Vale set to rival Belgian side for Sunderland transfer agreement in January | OneFootball

Port Vale are reportedly interested in a loan move for Blondy Nna Noukeu

Port Vale are looking to bolster their goalkeeper ranks with a loan move for Sunderland shot stopper Blondy Nna Noukeu.

The Cameroonian goalkeeper has yet to make a first-team appearance for Sunderland since arriving in August 2024, and Africafoot are reporting that the League One side are "very interested in a loan" deal until the end of the season.

The report also states that Sint-Truiden, the side currently sitting fourth in the Belgian Pro League, are interested in the 24-year-old as well.

Vale currently sit bottom of League One, with Aston Villa loanee Joe Gauci taking the place in between the sticks for Darren Moore. However, with this report, perhaps the Valiants are looking to shake things up in the goalkeeper department.

Port Vale interested in bringing Sunderland's Blondy Nna Noukeu to Vale Park

With the January transfer window set to open in just over a month, Africafoot has reported that the Black Cats are aiming to offload Noukeu.

The 24-year-old hasn't made a senior appearance for Sunderland since he arrived at the club over a year ago, playing numerous times for the under-21's side instead.

During that time, the Black Cats have gone from strength to strength, earning promotion to the Premier League in May and then starting life back in the top flight incredibly. As the squad improved over the summer, the shot-stopper fell further by the wayside.

Noukeu's situation at Sunderland mirrors that at his former club, Stoke City, where he also didn't get any game time in the first team. His only experience of senior football in England came via loan moves with Southend United and Crawley Town.

Therefore, Regis Le Bris' side is keen to offload him in January, and Port Vale are said to be rivalling Belgian Pro League side Sint-Truiden for his signature.

Port Vale have conceded 20 goals in 17 League One games so far this season, and a prospective arrival of the six-foot-five shot-stopper will help to lower that tally as the Valiants continue to battle against immediate relegation back to League Two.

Port Vale should be looking at targets playing further forward in January - Sunderland swoop shouldn't be a priority

Port Vale's goals against tally in the third tier this season lies around the league average. However, going forward, they're the side who have put the ball in the net the fewest out of any side in League One.

Of the sides currently in the bottom six of the division, Exeter City have conceded fewer than Vale, but the Valliants have scored at least four fewer than each side currently in that group.

Therefore, the transfer strategy for Vale this January should be clear - bring in some recognised strikers to help drag the club out of the bottom four and to safety.

Whilst Noukeu brings a high profile — there'll be a reason why teams such as Sunderland and Stoke wanted him on their books — a goalkeeper addition perhaps shouldn't be at the top of Darren Moore's priority list when the transfer window opens.