Sunderland have confirmed the departure of Donald Love, which will facilitate the arrival of free agent defender Jordan Willis.
Willis is believed to have undergone his medical at the Academy of Light on Friday with just the finishing touches to be made before an official unveiling.
Manager Jack Ross revealed earlier in the week that the Black Cats are currently operating with a one-out, one-in policy as they look to trim their inflated wage bill after failing to gain promotion from League One last term.
And to allow for Willis' arrival, the club have come to terms with former Manchester United defender Love to terminate his contract on Wearside 12 months early. It is believed Love was earning roughly £8,500-per-week.
Cutting Love's wages seems a natural move considering the miserable three years he's had on Wearside, and the club's brief statement was reflective of a player who made little impact at the Stadium of Light.
The statement read simply: "Sunderland AFC can confirm that Donald Love has left the club. Everyone at SAFC would like to wish Donald the very best for the future."
Signed in the summer of 2016 by David Moyes, he came as part of a double deal with the Red Devils which also saw Paddy McNair arrive.
Love was initially signed a young player with future prospects but was immediately thrown in at the deep end, such was the Black Cats' lack of depth and transfer activity that summer.
In his first season on Wearside he made 18 appearances as Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League, while injuries, as they would throughout his time at the club, restricted his playing time. He never would recover from that early baptism of fire.
He made one less appearance in the 2017-18 campaign as Sunderland suffered an embarrassing second consecutive relegation, and any hopes that dropping to the third tier might help the 24-year-old right-back finally find his feet an establish himself at the Stadium of Light were quickly dispelled.
He started four of the first six games of the season before getting injured against Oxford on September 1 and would not appear for Jack Ross' side again - something which likely made to the decision to cut him from the squad an easy one.
