SUNDERLAND were working to finalise the signing of Max Power from Wigan Athletic last night, and aim to follow that up by landing Manchester United striker James Wilson.

Even though Jack Ross, the Sunderland manager, was chasing a forward to boost his squad’s attacking options following an injury to Jerome Sinclair, it was Power that arrived first.

Now the Black Cats will be looking to seal a deal for Wilson before the end of the month, with Football League clubs permitted to secure loan deals.

Power, though, was targeted for a permanent deal but having missed the 5pm deadline to sign off the transfer, Sunderland had to secure his services on a loan first.

The 25-year-old was on Wearside to finalise the move last night and the deal is with a view to a permanent deal, further enhancing the options in the centre of the pitch.

Power was born in Birkenhead and brought up as part of the Tranmere academy and he earned a decent reputation, despite Rovers’ fall through the divisions and into the National League.

He then got his move to Wigan in 2015, helping them promotion a couple of times, and now Sunderland have moved to use his experience to help in the fight to go up from League One.

Wilson has a reputation for scoring goals through the ranks and at various levels, having had spells with Brighton, Derby and Sheffield United.

He is an England Under-21 international.

Deadline day also passed without any outgoing deals being struck. That mean Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong remain Sunderland players, with Dijon walking away from a potential deal involving the former.

Ross added yesterday afternoon: “We may still manage to do a little bit today. We have tried to identify that over the last few months.

“The loan window will benefit us and other clubs. It is getting the balance right of getting players to help you in a short term and then others to play for you longer term.

“We may do some business. No more I am aware of leaving today.

“I have said that previously as well. In terms of ins and outs we won’t know for certain until the end of the month when the loan window closes.”

Again, though, the loan window and the fact that other countries’ transfer windows remain open means that both men could leave before the end of the month.

Lee Cattermole had been interesting Hull City but the huge stumbling block is the size of his wages on Wearside – and there is a similar situation involving left-back Bryan Oviedo.

Sunderland will look to use Oviedo at Luton tomorrow, as Ross will look to lead his team to a second win in a row to start the new campaign.

There were impressive performances from a number of players against Charlton on Saturday but they did look leaky at the back, particularly at the start.

Summer recruit from Peterborough Jack Baldwin is an option to slot in having been named as substitute in the opener.

The £250,000 buy was behind Alim Ozturk and Glenn Loovens and Ross has explained his reasons why.

The Sunderland boss said: “We were always a bit behind in terms of where we needed to be. For Jack and Luke O’Nien only coming in the previous week, it was a big change for them.

“They had to get to know players and how I work.

“To have both of them in the team was always going to be difficult. The caveat to that was that I had two centre-halves who between them had only played a game and a half in pre-season.

“Whatever option we went for we were taking a risk. That’s because we are a little behind. I think every single day Jack has trained with us, he has looked more comfortable in the environment.

“That’s not a slight on him, I just believe when a new player comes in you don’t always feel absolutely comfortable from day one. Some take a week or two to find their feet.

“Every single day he has looked more comfortable and confident in his surroundings. He comes in to our thoughts for Saturday, we like to have continuity in what we do but there will always be bits and pieces that change in terms of what we think is needed for that game – and for what we have available. That’s the key thing at the moment.”

n Fulham made a significant statement on transfer deadline day, with five new signings ahead of their top-flight return.

Goalkeeper Sergio Rico and midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa joined, with loan deals for Manchester United’ Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Atletico Madrid’s Luciano Vietto also wrapped up alongside Joe Bryan’s arrival from Bristol City.

Since the end of their promotion-winning campaign Fulham have now added an entire team’s worth of new talent, at an estimated cost of more than £100m.

n Danny Ings, the Liverpool striker, joined Southampton on an initial loan deal.

An agreement has been struck between the clubs for the move to become permanent at the end of the season.

The Saints will pay £18m up front with a further £2m due based on the number of appearances he makes while the Reds will also receive 20 per cent of any sell-on fee.

For Ings, who has agreed a four-year contract, it is a return to his hometown club who released him aged 10 because he was too small.