The day after making their first signing of the summer, Sunderland have added a second, in the shape of goalkeeper Ahmed Abdelkader.
But the 20-year old Algerian has not been signed to supplement the first-team squad, more to add to their under-23 group.
Since Stewart Donald became owner last summer, the Black Cats have been looking to draft in under-23 players, with their best young talents increasingly being picked off by bigger clubs.
So although they are on the look-out for a senior player to back up Jon McLaughlin, that is not the role earmarked for Abdelkader.
Abdelkader has played for Guingamp and Cypriot side ENAD Polis Chrysochous, and was on trial at Leicester City at the start of last season.
Sunderland released Robbin Ruiter, Max Stryjek and Max Johnstone at the end of 2018-19.
Scotland international Jon McLaughlin has been linked with a move to Championship neighbours Middlesbrough, but having been such a key figure last season, the Black Cats will be extremely reluctant to let him go.
This summer they are looking to cut back an extremely bloated League One wage bill which stood at around £14m a year before Lee Cattermole was released on Monday. But as a player signed when the Black Cats were in the third tier and on wages which reflect that, the goalkeeper does not fall into that category.
So far the only senior addition to their squad has been Northern Ireland right-back Conor McLaughlin, who has joined from Millwall.
