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Josh Maja's transfer from Sunderland to Bordeaux has officially been confirmed, with the Black Cats top goalscorer signing a four-and-a-half year contract with the French top tier side.

Maja , 20, netted 16 goals for Jack Ross' side this season but was out of contract in the summer and had refused to sign a new deal. He would have left for a measly compensation fee of around £300,000 had the Black Cats forced him to stay and see out the season on Wearside.

Instead they chose to cash in, with the transfer set to net the club around £3.5m, although not all up front.

Sunderland are believed to be receiving around half of the fee right away, with the other half dependant on appearances and other clauses agreed between the two clubs.

But that fee won't go towards boosting Jack Ross' transfer fund, with Stewart Donald confirming that money is still owed to Bordeaux for the transfer of Wahbi Khazri in January 2016. Despite that, the Sunderland owner insists the club do still have the budget to adequately replace the departing top goalscorer this month.

A simple statement from Sunderland read: "Josh Maja has completed a move to Bordeaux. The 20-year old Sunderland AFC academy graduate has joined the French Ligue 1 side on a permanent basis."

Sunderland now have the task of replacing Maja in the final week of the transfer window.

Ross already wanted one striker this month and Maja's departure leaves them searching for another.

Will Grigg is an active target but Wigan have rejected four bids already this month from the Black Cats, although manager Paul Cook has conceded that every player has a price.

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Grant Leadbitter is also believed to be close to signing, with just details to sort on the Middlesbrough end before he completes a free transfer to his boyhood club. He is arriving to bolster midfield options though.

Sunderland were also linked with Bolton attacking midfielder Erhun Oztumer this week.

Oztumer plays in the number ten role behind the striker and earned a move to Championship side Bolton in the summer after a strong League One campaign with Walsall that saw him contribute 15 goals and six assists. Charlton are also rivalling Sunderland for the 27-year-old who has struggled in the North West, however.