Sunderland director drops transfer target hint - and explains why progress has been slow

Jones, who was recently appointed as a non-executive director at the Stadium of Light, is assisting the recruitment team this month as they look to bolster Phil Parkinson’s promotion-chasing squad.

Sunderland have already signed Kyle Lafferty on a free transfer, and are keen to strengthen further in the coming weeks – with Burton Albion’s Liam Boyce and Bristol City youngster Antoine Semenyo key targets.

But Jones has revealed the ‘complex’ situation facing Sunderland behind the scenes, having hinted that some targets have come with unrealistic financial expectations given the history of the club.

However, the director remains confident that Sunderland will still strengthen this month as they look to push up League One.

“It’s not as straightforward as lining-up your target and going for them in this window,” he explained, in an interview with BBC Newcastle.

“It’s a complex window and it’s even more complex if you’re Sunderland and knocking on people’s doors.

“People are still thinking that we are a huge club at this level, which of course we are, but it doesn’t mean we have piles of cash right now.

“There is a bit of bargaining to be done and a bit of jockeying with one or two clubs, but I’m very confident that we will add more than Kyle Lafferty in this transfer window.”