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Wahbi Khazri could leave Sunderland on deadline day with interest from two Spanish clubs.

Celta Vigo and Real Betis have both shown an interest in the Tunisian.

David Moyes hinted on Monday that Patrick van Aanholt might not be the only departure from the Stadium of Light this month.

“I would never lie to you, maybe,” he said when asked about the possibility. “I don’t know what big-names mean, but I couldn’t say no to that question exactly.”

When pressed, the Scot said that prize assets Jermain Defoe and Lamine Kone would not be sold. It would be hard to imagine the club parting with Jordan Pickford this month either.

Khazri, though, was signed at great cost and has had little impact this season.

He played an important part in Sunderland’s escape from relegation last year, after signing from Bordeaux 12 months ago. But Moyes has not taken to him in the way predecessor Sam Allardyce did.

It started badly when Moyes complained about the 25-year-old’s conditioning when he reported back for pre-season. Once the games started, he was unhappy with his carelessness in possession.

His time at the African Cup of Nations also hinted at problems with the player’s attitude.

There were reports that Khazri refused to travel home from the tournament with his team-mates after falling out with coach Henryk Kasperczak.

Kasperczak substituted Khazri 63 minutes into their quarter-final with Burkina Faso. The game was 0-0 at the time, but Tunisia went on to lose 2-0. Khazri ignored Kasperczak as he came off and after the game the Polish coach called him “far from professional”.

Khazri’s ability to take dead balls was a large part of his contribution to last season, but Moyes has Swede Sebastian Larsson fit again to do that job after knee surgery.

Whatever the reasons, Khazri has started just four Premier League matches this season for a team desperately light on creativity. The last game he kicked off was against Arsenal in October.

But according to Canal+, La Liga sides Celta and Betis have apparently taken notice of Khazri’s bright performances in Gabon, and his displays under Allardyce. Khazri scored once at the African Cup, from the penalty spot.

Khazri still has three-and-a-half years on his Sunderland contract, and it would seem a waste for such a small squad to sacrifice one of its most creative talents if the money was not reinvested on deadline day, but paying wages to a player the manager does not rate could arguably be more wasteful still.