Sunderland made a serious attempt for Napoli goalkeeper Rafael Cabral last month.

The stopper is back-up to former Liverpool 'keeper Pepe Reina in Serie A, with the player's agent Paulo Affonso also confirming that a late deal could not be agreed.

“Of the formal interests there were three: one here in Brazil, a great team even if not successful, then in Europe, Sunderland and Espanyol. There was not enough time with the English club, who had lost its goalkeeper to injury," he told Calcio Napoli 24.

“This was 48 hours before the close of the transfer market, there was not enough time to close such a transaction, either to borrow or outright."