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But if Coates does join the Black Cats, manager Gus Poyet would have to finally give up on landing his Anfield team-mate Fabio Borini or buy the Italian outright.

Poyet, aware that Borini is reluctant to pledge his long-term future to Sunderland, has considered another temporary arrangement like last season.

But Premier League rules do not allow a club to sign two players on loan from the same club so if Coates comes in, it would be a case of conceding defeat in his pursuit of Borini or paying the £14m agreed with Liverpool more than a month ago.

Poyet has set a Thursday deadline for Borini to give him an answer on a move to Wearside after stalling for weeks.

Privately, he accepts the odds are stacked against Borini joining Sunderland which has seen him step up his interest in Lille's former Chelsea winger Salomon Kalou over the weekend.

The 29-year-old is also wanted by Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg who have already opened talks with Lille, but the player is keen on a return to the Premier League.

Poyet is increasingly confident of landing fellow Uruguyan Coates from Liverpool as one of his two domestic loan options.

The Sunderland boss has only six experienced defenders in his squad and little cover should anything happen to first choice centre backs Wes Brown and John O'Shea.

Like Borini, Coates' Anfield career has been blighted by injuries and last year, he returned to former club Nacional on loan.

He forced his way into Uruguay's World Cup squad, coming on as a late sub in their 2-1 win over England, but is well down the pecking order at Liverpool.

Poyet's most recent signing Will Buckley enjoyed a sparkling home debut in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United and is set for a second start in tomorrow night's Capital One Cup tie against Birmingham.

The Sunderland boss has already announced he plans to field a strong side at St Andrews, which will include former Manchester City keeper Costel Pantilimon.