Sunderland Keeper Vito Mannone Set For Surprise Transfer

Sunderland have already been busy this January transfer window by fending off West Ham for their main-man Jermain Defoe. But it appears Vito Mannone is set to ditch the Black Cats for a return back home.

Serie A outfit Genoa are reportedly after Mannone to solve their somewhat keeper-crisis at the club.

Their current No.1, Mattia Perin, is ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious torn ACL. Needless to say, they're in the market for a replacement.

And Genoa have already been in contract with the Italian. Their other keeper on the books, Eugenio Lamanna, has hardly featured since his move in 2008 with Ivan Juric reluctant to hand him the responsibilities.

Manager Juric is hellbent on acquiring the ex-Arsenal stopper to fill in between the sticks for the second of the campaign.

Genoa are 12th in the league as they seek to climb into the top half of the table entering the half-way stage.

The 28-year-old left his native Italy for Arsenal before moving to Sunderland via a few loans at Barnsley and Hull City (twice).

But a lack of playing time could prompt Mannone to return to his homeland. Jordan Pickford is currently in possession of the No.1 jersey and has since churned out impressive outings.

Though he returned to the fold following injury to Pickford. Mannone is also attracting interest from Inter Milan as cover for Samir Handonovic.

Topics: Sunderland, Serie A, Premier League

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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