Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce given green light to sign two defenders in bid to avoid drop

Sam Allardyce given the green light by Sunderland chief Ellis Short to sign two defenders

SAM ALLARDYCE has been given the green light to sign two new defenders in his bid to beat relegation.

 

Allardyce has been promised money to spend by owner Ellis Short and wants to sign centre-half James Collins from his former club West Ham to stiffen a backline which has kept just one clean sheet this term and is also tracking Olympiakos' French left-back Arthur Masuaku.

The 1-0 defeat at home by Southampton leaves Sunderland second from bottom, four points adrift of safety and if the gap gets any bigger, few players would be keen to join a club seemingly destined for the drop.

Allardyce will have to wheel and deal in the transfer market with fringe players such as Danny Graham allowed to leave while question marks hang over Adam Matthews, who only joined the club in the summer and long-serving midfielder Seb Larsson.

Italian striker Fabio Borini believes the next fortnight is crucial to Sunderland's survival prospects as Allardyce works on the training ground with those players not on international duty.

Fabio Borini insists the next two weeks will be crucial to Sunderland's survival bid

"This break will give him more time to work with us even if not all the players are in," said Borini.

"More time for him to think and more time for us to build on the ideas of the manager. "He is very clear and straight up but it takes a bit of time for players to get used to different ideas."