Sunderland have placed their sporting director Lee Congerton on gardening leave, ruling him out of having any involvement in the upcoming transfer window.
Congerton has been serving a 12-month notice period at the Stadium of Light since tendering his resignation earlier in the season after Dick Advocaat left his role as head coach.
With Sam Allardyce now in control of transfer dealings having taken over as manager, Congerton's own duties have severely diminished.
It is expected that the Black Cats will arrange an agreement to part company with the former Chelsea chief scout in the coming weeks, having seen his role become effectively meaningless.
Allardyce is understood to have been in negotiations with a number of targets ahead of the January transfer window as he looks to strengthen his squad in an attempt to stave off the threat of relegation.
Sunderland currently sit 19th in the Premier League table, five points adrift of safety.
