There’s increasing confidence at St Andrew’s a deal – loan – will be finalised before the end of the day.

Roberts played a key role in Sunderland’s promotion last season but has been pushed to the fringes by the summer arrivals and has only played 27 minutes from the bench at Burnley in the first three games of the campaign.

While Roberts was keen to stay and fight for his place in the side, there’s an acceptance that game-time will be extremely hard to come by, and Birmingham – who look likely to challenge at the top end of the Championship this season – is an appealing loan move for the 28-year-old.

Roberts is likely to be one of several departures on deadline day, with a number of players who are out of the first team picture at the Stadium of Light available for transfer and set to depart.

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But Regis Le Bris will strengthen his squad.

Dutch international defender Lutsharel Geertruida is currently undergoing his medical on Wearside ahead of completing his move from RB Leipzig.

It will be an initial loan with an option to make the deal permanent next summer for €23m.

There’s also confidence that Sunderland will get a deal to sign Ajax forward Brian Brobbey wrapped up ahead of the deadline.

Ongoing talks with Ajax have progressed quickly, with Brobbey set to undergo his medical in the Netherlands once he gets the green light.

Providing there are no hitches with that deal, Marc Guiu will return to Chelsea.

The Blues contacted Sunderland over the weekend with a wish to recall Guiu after Liam Delap suffered a serious hamstring injury, but with no recall clause at this stage of the agreement between the clubs, Sunderland have to sanction a Stamford Bridge return for the striker.

That hasn’t been confirmed yet but remains extremely likely. Though Guiu is Chelsea’s player, the power has been in Sunderland’s hands given they are the club who have to give a Stamford Bridge return the green light.

They’d only do that if they’re comfortable with the position they’re in, which essentially means they need to have a striker signing lined up – which looks set to be Brobbey.