Sunderland sends Coates on loan to Sporting CP

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Lisbon - Sunderland's Uruguay international defender Sebastian Coates has joined Sporting Lisbon on loan for the rest of the season, the Portuguese club confirmed on Thursday.

The 25-year-old is headed for Portugal following Sunderland's signing of Ivory Coast international Lamine Kone on Wednesday and could make his Sporting debut against Academica at the weekend.

Coates joined the Black Cats from Liverpool, initially on loan, in 2014 and made a permanent move to the Stadium of Light last summer, on a contract running until 2019.

He made 32 appearances for the club, including 16 this season, but has been sidelined as manager Sam Allardyce attempts to rebuild his squad while balancing the wage bill to meet Financial Fair Play regulations.

The deal includes a €5 million ($5.4 milllion) option to buy, added Sporting, who are leading the Portuguese league.