Sunderland’s 25-year-old head to Millwall for medical as loan move close after £3m deal agreed

Millwall are close to completing a loan move for Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

It was reported by Sky Sports News on Saturday that the goalkeeper was on his way to London to complete his move, which will include undergoing a medical and signing his contract.

Sunderland, per a report from the Sunderland Echo, have agreed a fee in the region of £3 million to sign the 22-year-old goalkeeper Melker Ellborg.

The move from the Black Cats paves the way for Patterson to join Millwall, with the Lions set to finalise the deal well ahead of the 7pm transfer deadline on Monday.

It has not been a completely straightforward move for Millwall, with six other Championship clubs said to hold an interest but Patterson is said to have favoured a move to the Den.

Patterson has worked with Alex Neil before, when the Lions boss was at Sunderland as manager. Millwall have been seeking a new goalkeeper after Lukas Jensen suffered a set-back in his return.

He missed the majority of last season after rupturing his Achilles tendon. A quad issue has kept him out for longer.

Millwall drew 1-1 with Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon but remain in a strong position to try and clinch a place in the play-offs. They are five points above Derby County in seventh with 16 games remaining.

Up next for the Lions is a huge game with fellow play-off contenders Wrexham next weekend. If a deal is completed for Patterson, he could make his debut against the Welsh club.

“It was a tight game,” Neil said as he reflected on the draw with the Blades.

“It was exactly the type of game I thought it would be. I knew it was going to be competitive. I knew it was going to be two teams really going at it and both trying to score. It was always going to be a case of who can hurt who most.

“My frustration, at the start of the game, was that I thought we had the best chance. We didn’t take it. They then go up the other end. I thought their goal was a good bit of quality for them, but disappointing from the other point of view in terms of defending.

“Throughout the game, I thought our right side caused them problems defensively, and their right side caused us problems defensively. The game was always going to be who can hurt who most, and that’s how it panned out.

“We spoke about it all week with the lads that we need to play our game better than they play their game. Both teams are relatively transitional teams. Both teams are really dangerous in the break, and it was going to be a case of who could take the chances and be a little bit more clinical.”