Cabanas Deal Looks Dead As S'land Look 2-Nil

The Swiss attacking-midfielder was expected to sign for the Wearside outfit last week but now, with less than 48 hours until the transfer window closes, that deal looks far from likely.

Sunderland first expressed an interest last year when Mick McCarthy was in-charge but the player opted for a move to Germany instead. He established himself a Grasshoppers Zurich and adopted Swiss nationality through birth as he has a Spanish father and Italian mother.

However, Sunderland are expected to beat off competition from Fulham and Bayer Leverkusen to bring Swedish star, Per Nilsson to Wearside. A deal of around £1.75m is rumoured. Nilsson would be the second Swedish player to join the Black Cats this summer following the £1.7m capture of Tobias Hysen from Djugarden. Hysen had an impressive debut in Sunderland's 2-nil win over West Bromwich Albion. He was a lively threat on the left.