Allardyce closes in on Kirchhoff signing

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is closing in on his first January signing after Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchhoff arrived in the north east.

The 25-year-old headed for England to hold talks and undergo a medical after being left out of the Bayern squad which flew to Qatar for a mid-season training camp yesterday.

Kirchhoff appears to be surplus to requirements in Munich after spending last season on loan with Bundesliga rivals Schalke. He has made just 10 appearances for the club in the two-and-a-half years since he signed from Mainz, all as a sub and just one this season in the 1-0 German Cup victory over Darmstadt.