Sunderland set sights on Leeds defender as first January arrival | OneFootball

Leeds United defender Lewie Coyle has been identified as Sunderland’s first target for the January transfer window.

The right-back, who can also play on the left or in midfield if required, spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Fleetwood Town.

Sunderland even got a first hand look at what he can do on New Year’s Day as he featured against them in the 1-1 draw last week.

They were impressed with what they saw, with the Sunderland Echo reporting that Coyle is now a target for the Black Cats.

With the 24-year-old’s contract at Elland Road due to expire at the end of the season, Phil Parkinson’s men are eyeing a cut-price January deal.

There has already been traffic in the opposite direction this month.

On loan Sunderland defender Laurens De Bock ended his spell at the Stadium of Light early to return to his parent club, although a return to Belgium is now expected due to ‘personal reasons’.

A meeting is reportedly scheduled between the Sunderland management team and the recruitment staff on Monday to green light their plans for the rest of the month.