Lens move close, Lombaerts deal dead

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Holland winger Lens has agreed personal terms with Dick Advocaat’s side after an £8million fee was agreed with Dynamo Kiev. The 27-year-old will travel to Wearside on Wednesday to complete his move.

But Sunderland are now focusing on other defensive targets after the transfer of Belgium international Lombaerts fell through.

The Northern Echo are reporting that a deal to sign the the 30-year-old from Zenit St Petersburg collapsed after a medical on Tuesday revealed a knee problem.

Providing there is no hitch, Lens is likely to join the Sunderland squad in North America, where their pre-season tour began with a defeat on Tuesday night.

A second-half strike gave Sacramento Republic a 1-0 win, though Advocaat was not too downhearted.

The coach told the club’s website: “Obviously if you lose it’s not good, but for me it’s more about getting in the right shape for the opening game of the Premier League season against Leicester.”

“You could tell that Sacramento are in the middle of their season and we are not yet at the same place and we also had to change the team at the break.

“A number of the international players have only been back a few days, but we still have another two games here.

“We need to get into better shape and we will get there. The result is never as important in pre-season.

“The players are training hard and that’s more important than the way we play at the minute.”