David Moyes is getting the gang back together.
The Sunderland manager is desperate for reinforcements, with the Black Cats stuck to the bottom of the Premier League and looking destined to be relegated.
Moyes also doesn’t have much money to spend in the window, and has been reliant on free-transfers to bolster his injury hit squad.
It looks as though he’s attempting to reassemble his old Everton squad.
Moyes signed Steven Pienaar and Victor Anichebe on free transfers last summer. Pienaar joined the Black Cats on a 12 month deal after being released by Everton and has made 12 appearances so-far this season.
Anichebe also signed-up until the end of the season, and Moyes moved earlier this week to complete a deal for another former Everton player – Joleon Lescott.
The 34-year-old defender had been without a club since AEK Athens released him in November.
Moyes is evidently unable to splash the cash, so is opting for players he trusts and has worked with before.
That has opened the door to an Irish midfielder to potentially get some much-needed first-team football.
According to The Daily Mail, Sunderland have enquired about the availability of Everton’s Darron Gibson, and his teammate Bryan Oviedo.
Moyes brought both players to Goodison Park when he was manager.
Gibson joined the Toffees from Manchester United in January 2012. He started well and was a regular for his first two seasons at the club.
However, over the past three years, his playing time has been reduced, partly by injuries, and he has made just 16 league appearances in that time.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder’s only appearance this season came in an EFL Cup game.
Gibson only signed a new two year deal last summer, but is very far down the pecking order in Ronald Koeman’s squad.
The Everton manager is unlikely to stand in the 29-year-old’s way if he wants to leave the club for first-team football.
