According to reports from the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool have agreed to sell Sebastian Coastes to Sunderland for a fee of £4m. Coates’ involvement in the Copa America ended on Wednesday when holders Uruguay lost to Chile in the quarter finals.
The reports states that Liverpool have a deal in place with Sunderland and the centre-back is expected to complete a permanent move to the Stadium of Light next week. Coates spent the last season on loan at the Black Cats but he was hampered by injuries. Hoever, he enjoyed a consistent run in the side under manager Dick Advocaat towards the end of the campaign, helping Sunderland to stave off relegation and remain in the top flight.
Coates featured in just 24 appearances for Liverpool since his £5m move from Nacional in the summer of 2011. The 24 year old however failed to muster a starting eleven spot for himself in the side and is currently surplus to requirements at Anfield with Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Coates’ sale marks the start of Liverpool’s summer clearance and the defender is expected to be followed by a host of players who could be on their way out from the red half of Merseyside. Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Brad Jones have already departed as free agents while Fabio Borini, Jose Enrique and Rickie Lambert could also follow suit.
The Reds are keen to get back in the Champions League and will be targeting a top four finish next term as their busy summer recruitment, which has seen five players being signed, certainly signals a statement of intent.
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