aly cissokho
Sunderland appear to have failed in another attempt to bring a full-back to the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats have spent the whole summer searching for new defensive recruits, especially left and right-backs, yet these efforts have been so far fruitless.
The latest player that Sunderland have missed out on is the Valencia left-back, Aly Cissokho, according The Chronicle.
The French international has been interesting several clubs this summer but it appears Liverpool have agreed terms with the defender meaning their fellow Premier League rivals, Sunderland, will have to look elsewhere.
The club have been hard-at-work this summer bringing no less than nine new faces to Wearside as Paolo Di Canio continues his squad overhaul.
However a full-back is still evading the Italian head coach.
Deals for Lucas Orban and Benjamin Mendy were not finalised with both players finding other deals in France, with Bordeaux and Marseille respectively.
A move for former-loanee Danny Rose was quickly quashed by the Tottenham manager, Andre Villas-Boas, who has said that Rose will be a key player for Spurs this season.
If full-backs are not signed, the Black Cats could be set to keep Craig Gardner and Jack Colback at left and right-back, positions that have been occupied by both players during the clubs preseason games.
Gardner appears to have no qualms where he plays according to a recent report from Sky Sports though Colback is a different matter.