According to the Express and Star, Sunderland failed in their late attempt to sign Ross McCormack and Tommy Elphick from Aston Villa on deadline day.

Both McCormack and Elphick are struggling for opportunities under Steve Bruce at Villa Park, but neither managed to get a move away from the Midlands at such a late stage of the transfer window.

Sunderland and Villa had been in talks over a potential loan move for McCormack, but the Sky Bet Championship rivals could not come to an agreement over the striker’s £45k-a-week wage, which ultimately proved to be the major stumbling block.

Elphick was another player on Simon Grayson’s radar at the Stadium of Light, but Villa rejected Sunderland’s approach to sign the 29-year-old, despite the Black Cats offering Villa a fee of £1m for the defender’s service.

It is understood that Villa blocked any potential move for Elphick due to injury concerns surrounding Chris Samba, with the 29-year-old needed to provide cover for John Terry and James Chester.

So far this season both McCormack and Elphick have failed to feature for Villa in the Championship, with the duo managing just one appearance each during the 2017/18 campaign.

McCormack featured as a late substitute against Wigan Athletic in the Carabao Cup, whilst Elphick captained Villa that day.

The Verdict  

Ultimately Sunderland’s late attempt to sign McCormack and Elphick failed, which will leave Simon Grayson bitterly disappointed, as both players could have offered so much.

The likelihood is that both McCormack and Elphick will have been disappointed not to get moves away from Villa Park, with their opportunities under Bruce looking extremely limited.

Whilst McCormack and Elphick will continue to be part of Villa’s squad during the first-half of the season, Sunderland could return with another attempt to sign the duo during the January transfer window. 

Sunderland fans… Let us know your thoughts!