Sunderland To Secure Sidwell Loan Switch Out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell is set for a four-month loan deal at Sunderland...

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is said to be confident of landing Chelsea's Steve Sidwell on a loan deal until the end of the season.

The Northern Echo reports that the 25-year-old, who has failed to make an impact since switching from Reading to the Bridge in summer - could make a transfer north at the end of the month.

However, while Chelsea boss Avram Grant would not fight too hard to hold onto Sidwell, all else being equal, he is apparently reluctant to sanction an immediate move due to the loss of John Obi Mikel to the African Cup of Nations.

Still, Keane feels that his idea to first loan Sidwell, rather than looking for a permanent deal from the outset, will allow the move to take place without too many problems.

Blackburn Rovers are also in with an outside chance of landing the former Arsenal youth.