Sunderland’s Ji Dong-won may be sent out on loan

South Korean striker Ji Dong-won, at Sunderland in the English Premier League, may be given an opportunity to go out on loan.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill is ready to send some of his younger players out on loan, and Connor Wickham and the 21-year-old are among those expected to be involved, a Sunderland newspaper reported Wednesday.

“Now the emergency loan window is getting ready to open this weekend, I’ll look at other things. There is possibility that may some players will go out on loan,” O’Neill told the Shields Gazette.

The summer transfer window was closed on Aug. 31. Still, it will be possible to send players out on loan through an emergency loan window scheduled to open Sept. 8.

His remark suggests that he intends to guarantee some playing time for Ji and Wickham after new signings have narrowed their ground within his team.

Through the latest transfer window, Sunderland landed Manchester City winger Adam Johnson, Wolves striker Steven Fletcher and French striker and free agent Louis Saha.

“I don’t mind allowing players to leave on emergency loans because they will be getting games and providing we can survive the first 28 days. If we pick up injury problems, we can recall them.”

Ji signed a three-year deal to join Sunderland in June 2011. The contrct is believed to be around 2 million pounds ($3.2 million). He made his league debut for the side in August, coming on as a substitute against Liverpool. Ji scored his first Premier League goal against Chelsea in September.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)