SUNDERLAND are set to offer Joleon Lescott a short-term deal at the Stadium of Light, but Papy Djilobodji is facing a four-match suspension after the Football Association charged him with violent conduct.

And the Black Cats will lose the services of another defender in the next couple of days, with Crystal Palace confident of completing a £12m deal for left-back Patrick van Aanholt.

Lescott trained with Sunderland’s first-team squad at the Academy of Light on Friday, and David Moyes is pondering the offer of a contract until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old centre-half is currently without a club, having been released from his most recent deal at Greek side AEK Athens in November, and played under Moyes for three seasons at Everton along with Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar, who joined Sunderland as free agents in the summer.

The Northern Echo:

His addition to the squad would help address a mounting defensive problem that has been exacerbated by Djilobodji’s potential absence.

Lamine Kone is likely to miss Sunderland’s next two games because of his international commitments with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Djilobodji will be sidelined until March if he is found guilty of the violent conduct charge that was imposed yesterday.

Djilobodji was caught on video raising his hands to West Brom midfielder Darren Fletcher in the closing stages of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at the Hawthorns.

Referee Craig Pawson has admitted he did not see the incident, and the FA have subsequently charged Djilobodji retrospectively.

The Senegalese centre-half has until 6pm this evening to respond to the charge, and if he is found guilty, he will receive a four-match ban as he has already been sent off against Hull City this season.

The FA will refer Saturday’s incident to a panel of three former elite referees, and they all have to regard Djilobodji’s push as a sending-off offence for the defender to receive a ban that would rule him out of matches against Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Everton.

Sunderland’s next game, against Spurs, will take place on transfer-deadline day, and it looks increasingly likely that van Aanholt will not be on the Black Cats’ books by the time this month’s transfer window closes.

Crystal Palace had a £7m bid for the full-back rejected last week, but Selhurst Park officials made renewed contact with their counterparts at the Stadium of Light over the weekend in an attempt to seal a deal.

They are willing to pay up to £12m for the Dutchman, who is understood to be keen on a move away from Wearside.

The Northern Echo:

Moyes had initially been reluctant to sell van Aanholt this month, but with the full-back having indicated a desire to leave, he is willing to do business provided Palace pay at least £9m of their fee up front.

That would then enable Moyes to sign an experienced left-back to replace van Aanholt before the transfer window closes a week tonight.

The Sunderland boss lodged a bid that was worth up to £10m for Norwich’s Robbie Brady last week, but the Republic of Ireland international is reluctant to join Sunderland given their position at the foot of the Premier League table.

Burnley and Bournemouth have also expressed an interest, and are expected to battle it out for Brady’s signature.

Moyes continues to monitor the availability of Everton centre-half Phil Jagielka, and has also been linked with a possible move for out-of-contract striker Robbie Keane.

The Scotsman, who is awaiting an update on the knee injury sustained by Victor Anichebe in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at West Brom, will at least be able to welcome Didier Ndong back into training before the end of the week.

Ndong’s Gabon side crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday night after drawing all three of their group games.