Sunderland set to secure defender Javier Manquillo ahead of relegation battle

Sunderland set to secure defender Javier Manquillo ahead of relegation battle

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Defender Javier Manquillo appears close to signing with Sunderland after completing a medical overnight.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a productive spell last season on loan to French side Marseille, but is believed to be surplus to requirements at current side Atletico Madrid.

This has presented the Black Cats with an opportunity to strengthen their defence, in the wake of a poor start to the Premier League. season

“The lad [Manquillo] is obviously having his medical at the moment. He came in this afternoon and he’s having his medical as we speak,” said assistant manager Paul Bracewell after Sunderland’s  1-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town in the EFL Cup.

The right-back has previously played in the English top-flight, spending the 2014-15 season on loan at Liverpool. His bright start quickly evaporated, leaving him with only 10 first-team appearances for the Reds.

Putting past failures behind him while impressing at Marseille, the young defender is hoping to leave his mark on the Premier League.

With the departure of Younes Kaboul and the impending exit of Lamine Kone, securing Manquillo on loan will provide some much needed depth to the backline for the campaign ahead.

A battle against relegation again looms, with manager David Moyes frank about his teams chances after being asked in the aftermath of the weekend defeat to Middlesborough.

“Fans would be right (if they feared relegation) because that’s what we’ve had here for four years,” he said.

“Why would it suddenly change? I think we will be in a relegation fight.”

Manquillo forms a raft of young signings for the club, with Adnan Januzaj, Paddy McNair and Donald Love all joining from Manchester United to boost Sunderland’s chances of beating the drop.

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