Sunderland’s decent start to the Championship has taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks following successive league defeats.

The Black Cats drew 1-1 at home to Derby County on the opening day and then secured an impressive 3-1 victory at Norwich City a week later, before earning a point from their trip to Sheffield Wednesday.

However, Simon Grayson’s men have suffered defeats at home to Leeds United and at Barnsley in recent weeks to serve as a reminder of exactly how difficult the Championship is, but they have the international break to try and get them back on the right track ahead of their clash with Sheffield United on September 9.

New boss Grayson, who left Preston North End over the summer, has overseen quite the overhaul at the Stadium of Light during the close season, and one man who could be leaving the club in the final days of the transfer window is wantaway midfielder Wahbi Khazri.

The Tunisia international joined the Black Cats back in 2016 but has failed to make a meaningful impact at the North East giants, bagging just three goals in 42 games for the club, of which just one came last term as they were meekly relegated from the Premier League.

But the 26-year-old, who confirmed back in May that he wanted out of Sunderland, could be about to seal a move away from the Stadium of Light, as recent reports suggest that the midfielder is in discussions with French side Rennes over a possible deal.

And news of Khazri’s likely departure has stimulated quite a response from Black Cats supporters on Twitter, who are particularly frustrated at the nature of the deal, with it likely to be a loan one as opposed to a permanent one…