Sunderland will 'accelerate' their plans to recruit another left-sided defender now that Bryan Oviedo's departure has been confirmed, says Jack Ross.
The Black Cats boss has identified a couple of potential targets as he seeks to bring in as backup for Denver Hume in the one area of his squad that he feels is short of cover.
Oviedo's exit from Wearside was confirmed on Monday with the Costa Rica international leaving 12 months early with a pay-off, and he immediately signed for Danish champions FC Copenhagen .
He had been the club's highest-paid player and the Black Cats could no longer afford to carry his Premier League-era salary of around £40,000 per week.
Sunderland allowed left-back Reece James to join Doncaster Rovers in June, and with Oviedo also leaving they will now need to bring in a sixth summer signing to add cover for Hume.
"At the moment it's the only area we feel we need to address, said Ross .
"The reason we haven't already is because we were in a similar situation last summer where we thought Bryan would leave the club.
"We had Denver's emergence and we brought Reece James to the club, which put us in the position of having three for the position which wasn't ideal.
"I didn't know with certainty whether Bryan would move on [this summer], now he has done so we can accelerate that [recruitment] process.
"I've high hopes for Denver and I want to push him, but obviously we need competition for places and an alternative for lack of form or an injury.
"I would like to bring in another left-sided player and I think we'll be able to do that.
"I don't see us paying big fees or big wages.
"We've got a couple that we like, we're just weighing it up in terms of what would fit with us.
"Needless to say as well that we've had a lot [of left-backs] offered to us since Bryan left as well."
Sunderland have brought one player in on loan this summer, adding Reading striker Marc McNulty on a season-long deal and, while Ross would prefer to bring a left-back in on a permanent basis, he has not ruled out utilising the loan market once again.
The fact that the transfer window for Premier League and Championship clubs closes on Thursday offers clubs in Leagues One and Two - who can make signings up to September 2 - an opportunity to make a move for players who find themselves stranded when that first deadline passes.
Ross said: "Once the Championship and Premier League window closes I would think there'll be a benefit to the clubs outside because those clubs will have players they want to move on and they can only go to one outside those leagues.
"If it is a loan, a longer term one like Marc's would be preferable, where the player commits to you for a year and it becomes like they've moved to the club.
"I'm not ruling it out, but I've always said that I prefer players to come permanently, but we'd be open to it."
