Regis Le Bris will hope for further incomings at the Stadium of Light as he bids to lead Sunderland back to the big time this term, having already pulled off the sensational loan signing of Roma midfielder Enzo Le Fee.

The Frenchman’s hotly-anticipated arrival on Wearside is surely going to offer a fresh boost to Sunderland’s promotion hopes, with the Black Cats currently placed fourth but with just a slender three-point gap from league leaders Leeds United.

Sunderland, however, are visibly not intent on stopping there and should amplify their pursuit of additional attacking options to bring Broadhead back to the North East.

This month, it’s all about fine-tuning as opposed to wholesale change.

Le Bris has been able to get a new and unprecedented tune out of this squad, some of whom had sorely struggled in the Championship last season, and Sunderland are one of the division’s very best teams in both boxes.

 mooted as a potential sticking point during Sunderland’s electrifying start to the campaign and while they have weathered the storm and remain firmly in automatic promotion contention at this stage, both ill-luck and the shortage of options throughout the camp have left them in a difficult position.

Romaine Mundle, who has been in inspired form this term, has been out injured since November, and his replacement – 18-year-old sensation Tommy Watson – is poised to face a further month on the sidelines after being struck down against Stoke City last month.

They are, of course, Sunderland’s two wide-left options, and Le Bris has been forced into bringing attacking midfielder Adil Aouchiche out of relative exile to fill in there with mixed results.

It’s something which Sunderland are very intent on addressing, mind you. They are among a range of second-tier suitors linked with a move for Aston Villa hotshot Louie Barry, who was recently recalled from a stunning loan spell in League One with Stockport County.

According to separate reports, Sunderland joined Sheffield Wednesday in enquiring about the services of Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo, although the former Cardiff and Manchester City prospect is now seemingly set to seal an overseas switch, leaving the Black Cats to consider alternative options.

Admittedly, the market for quality and experienced left-sided wingers is rather thin at the minute, but that isn’t to say options are not available.

One player who may well be is ex-Black Cats loan star Broadhead, who is enduring a tough old time of it at Ipswich this season and is primed to only fall further down McKenna’s pecking order with the Tractor Boys closing in on the signing of Philogene, a long-time target, from Aston Villa for a reported £20 million sum.

Akin to a number of the players who inspired Ipswich to consecutive promotions from the third-tier to the Premier League, Broadhead has found game time immensely difficult to come by in Town’s battle against relegation back to the Championship.

Indeed, he has started just two of his side’s 20 top-flight matches to date – which were the last two fixtures against Fulham and Chelsea, it must be said – with competition from the likes of Omari Hutchinson and even one such Jack Clarke proving stiff.

Although Broadhead has been utilised by McKenna as of late, one would have to be surprised if that was to remain the case following the arrival of Philogene, who, with both his price tag and undoubted quality, will be coming in to establish himself as an instant starter.

His peripherial role pales in comparison to the importance he had in their stunning top-flight promotion last time out, with no player at Portman Road outscoring Broadhead’s return of 13 strikes from 38 appearances.

It was very much a breakthrough campaign at Championship level for Broadhead, who proved his worth at second-tier level after enjoying impressive loan spells in League One with Ipswich and, of course, Sunderland back in the 2022/23 term.

The Welsh international returned 10 strikes in just 22 matches, with his stay frustratingly disrupted through injury, but that prior relationship could be capitalised on in Sunderland’s clear search for a new left-winger.

Broadhead brings both creativity and quality in one-v-one scenarios but his considerable goal threat is the outstanding facet of his game.

The Welshman often tends to come inside centrally and run in behind defences, representing a much more direct and decisive profile to the talented, albeit inconsistent Patrick Roberts on the other side.

He would offer, you would like to think, that instant sense of firepower and X-Factor to spearhead Sunderland’s automatic promotion push.

The 26-year-old wide-man has proven himself to be a match-winner on so many occasions in Suffolk and is more than capable of replicating that impact once again.

It’s important to note he instantly hit the ground running with Ipswich after joining in the second-half of the 22/23 season, scoring eight goals and getting a further five assists from just 19 third-tier matches to help their promotion to the Championship.

Such an impact for Sunderland heading into such a crucial stage of the campaign could make all the difference in their search of a Premier League return.

Ipswich Town have received a permanent January transfer offer to sell a player who Kieran McKenna has previously called “powerful”.

The Tractor Boys have been active in the winter market, making Ben Godfrey the club’s first signing of 2025. The former Norwich City defender joined on loan for the second half of the season from Serie A side Atalanta and made his debut for the club against Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup.

Next to arrive at Portman Road will be winger Jaden Philogene. Ipswich agreed on a permanent transfer to sign Philogene from Aston Villa, who have since bolstered their attacking ranks with the arrival of Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund.

After Philogene, attention at Ipswich could be on outgoings, with Mckenna admitting defender Harry Clarke could leave on loan before the deadline.

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“He’s had some minutes now in the Premier League, some exposure. But of course, for his age, as a young defender, it’s important to be getting minutes regularly for his progression and his role at the club. If everything is in a good place in the squad over the next week or two from an availability point of view, then there’s a chance that Harry will go out on loan to get some regular playing time, to keep pushing with his development.

“That’s the only one, really. Other than that, the squad is pretty tight at the moment. Everyone’s got a really clear role in the team and I wouldn’t expect too many changes to that in the next couple of weeks.”

One player already out on loan is centre-back George Edmundson, who is at Middlesbrough. There have been reports that Michael Carrick’s side were plotting a permanent January move for the Ipswich man, and it looks as if that offer has been made.

According to Football Insider, Ipswich have received and rejected a permanent offer from Middlesbrough for Edmundson. The 27-year-old has been a regular for Boro under Carrick, and reporter Stuart Watson has provided further details on the bid that was made, claiming it was worth £350,000.

Edmundson is out of contract at Portman Road at the end of the season, and it looks as if Ipswich are open to selling for the right price, so it will be interesting if Boro return with an improved offer before the deadline.

McKenna has previously hailed the defender, who he chose to play against Liam Delap last season against Hull City, saying: “I just wanted to put George in tonight. We thought he’s been training really well, has played really well in the cup competitions and I thought his qualities tonight against Liam Delap would be really important.

“There are not many more powerful runners than George so we thought we’d put him up against one of the more powerful runners in the league.”

Ipswich Town are close to finalising a major January transfer as they prepare to welcome Brighton to Portman Road of Thursday night.

Ipswich, who are third from bottom in the Premier League, have been pushing to complete on Jaden Philogene’s £20m arrival from Aston Villa and are now expected to do so in the next 24 hours.

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The attacking winger will be too late to feature in Ipswich’s clash against the Seagulls but Philogene could be in place for Kieran Mckenna’s team by the weekend as they welcome Manchester City on Sunday.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano posted: “Ipswich Town are confident to resolve final details of Jaden Philogene deal in the next 24 hours and then sign all documents. Almost there.”

The 22-year-old underwent his medical at Portman Road, last week and will end his brief six-month return to Villa Park.

The Tractor Boys tried to sign Philogene last summer and agreed a fee of around £18m with Hull but Villa swiftly activated their buy-back option, having previously sold the England under-21 international to Hull in 2023.

He made four starts for Unai Emery’s side this term, including against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and 11 substitute appearances.

Meanwhile, Brighton have transfer issues of their own as boss Fabian Hurzeler has not ruled out January loan moves for Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso.

The two forwards have struggled for minutes this season having worked their way back from long-term injuries last term.

“We will negotiate what is important for him, what is important for his development, where he can improve the best and then we will make the decision together,” Hurzeler said on Ferguson’s future ahead of Brighton’s Premier League trip to Ipswich on Thursday.

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“This decision should be what is best for the player and for the club. We sent (Facundo) Buonanotte, for example, to Leicester.

“In the end, they want to play for Brighton and we want them to play for Brighton. So, that’s why I am not thinking about making the other teams better, it’s more about what is best for the player.”

Paraguay international Enciso scored his first goal since May 2023 in Brighton’s 4-0 FA Cup win at Norwich on Saturday.

Hurzeler said: “Julio has value, special potential and a profile that helps us in different situations.

“He’s giving everything for the club because he says he really likes to play for Brighton and he has shown it on the pitch this season.

“We are really happy to have him here, but we always have to negotiate what is the best individual development for the player.”

Brighton have slipped to 10th in the Premier League after eight games without a win in the competition, drawing six of those.