Simon Grayson responds when asked if Sunderland will make new signing before Derby County clash

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Sunderland are believed to be closing in on Aston Villa forward Ross McCormack.

Simon Grayson has told the Chronicle that Sunderland are unlikely to have any new signings completed before Friday.

Team Talk suggested yesterday that Sunderland could wrap up a deal for Aston Villa striker Ross McCormack in the near future.

However, Sunderland are not expecting any new arrivals to sign up in time to face Derby County tomorrow evening.

“I wouldn’t have thought so,” Grayson said. “I would have thought we would be pretty much going into the game with the squad we’ve got.

“The thing that this football club has got is the ability to attract players. Players have been ringing me who are desperate to come to this club. They would walk to this club.”

McCormack is believed to be on Sunderland’s wishlist, but getting a deal over the line for the Villa striker has proved problematic.

If McCormack is not signed in time to play against Derby, then Grayson seems likely to line-up with Lewis Grabban and James Vaughan in his starting line-up.

Sunderland are under pressure to start well this season, to allay fears that the Wearsiders could struggle again.

Sunderland lost 5-0 to Celtic in their last outing, and there are some concerns that Grayson’s side could be set for further misery over the upcoming campaign.