FORMER Celtic defender Adam Matthews is on the way out at Sunderland – after just ONE game.
Ex-boss Dick Advocaat paid £2million for the attacking right-back to lure him from Parkhead in the summer.
However, the 24-year-old Welsh international, who agreed a four-year contract, has made only one start and hasn’t played a first team game since August.
He has been snubbed by Sam Allardyce who took over from Advocaat at the Stadium of Light in October.
Two Championship sides have been monitoring Matthews’ situation and a loan move could be arranged during this transfer window.
The former Cardiff City star, who joined the Hoops at the end of his contract in July 2011, has returned after an ankle injury and and played in a closed-door encounter against Sheffield United on Tuesday.
Matthews is among a host of players Allardyce considers surplus to requirements at the Premier League strugglers.
Striker Danny Graham, who has started two of the club’s last three games, has joined Blackburn Rovers on loan for the remainder of the season and keeper Cosetl Pantilimon has agreed a three-and-a-half year deal with Watford.
Others who will be part of the Sunderland clear-out are likely to be Jordi Gomez and Valentin Roberge while Steven Fletcher looks set to let the remaining few months of his contract wind down before completing a move, most likely to Celtic, this summer.
Meanwhile Croatian holding midfielder Ljuban Crepulja was in Glasgow before the 8-1 thrashing of Hamilton Accies to allow the Hoops boss to carry out final checks before deciding on their next move. The player is out of contract in June and Celtic have the choice of agreeing a pre-contract deal – or completing a £300,000 move during this transfer window.
The champions, of course, completed their £2million move for Danish international defender Erik Sviatchenko on Sunday.
Press reports this morning suggest that relegation bound Aston Villa are preparing a £5m bid for Celtic’s current player of the year Stefan Johansen – a player who might not be properly appreciated at Celtic until he is gone.
