Seb Larsson will not be returning to Sunderland, the Echo understands.The 32-year-old’s contract ran out at the end of last month and the Swedish midfielder’s six-year spell at the Stadium of Light is over. Former boss David Moyes was minded to give Larsson a new deal along with Sunderland skipper John O’Shea, who has signed a new one-year contract. But the Echo understands that Larsson will not be returning to Wearside. It comes as Sunderland last night completed their first signing of the summer – defender Brendan Galloway on a season-long loan deal from Everton. The pacy 21-year-old, who can play at left-back or centre-back, will be followed by Everton team-mate Tyias Browning. Browning has undergone a medical and an announcement is expected imminently, while the club is very close to agreeing a deal for Everton winger Aiden McGeady. The Echo understands that Sunderland have agreed a fee with Everton and personal terms with McGeady but the deal is not yet finalised. Sunderland are reshaping their squad ahead of the Championship campaign under new boss Simon Grayson. Several senior players, including Jordan Pickford, Jermain Defoe and Fabio Borini, have already left, with more set to depart before the window closes at the end of August. Larsson, who has Premier League interest from Brighton and has previously spoken of a desire to play at the highest level possible, is one of those to depart. The Swede suffered a disrupted season, not getting going until December because of a knee operation he underwent in the summer. He played 23 games for the Black Cats in total last term as they slipped out of the Premier League after a dismal campaign. Grayson is working round the clock with chief executive Martin Bain to add further new faces, with the striking department the priority. The Sunderland squad is due back from their Austrian training camp today. Skipper O’Shea, Jeremain Lens and Didier Ndong returned to training at the Academy of Light yesterday after they were given an extended break due to their international commitments at the end of last season. Their return is a welcome one for Grayson, but he knows the squad is short on numbers ahead of the first friendly away at Bury tomorrow night (7.30pm kick-off). “We are short on numbers, we know that,” said Grayson. “We have a few players back at the training ground that will probably be available for the Hibs game. “It will be nice to see them and to see what condition they are in and hopefully some new additions which we will hopefully have on board very soon and other players in the coming days and weeks as well. “It is all about moving forward both on and off the pitch. “We won’t be the finished article at Bury on Friday, it is about progressing and moving forward on and off the pitch, but so far, with what we’ve done, I am pleased with.” Meanwhile, the Echo understands there is currently no interest in Watford midfielder Ben Watson, despite reports that the Black Cats were looking to make a move for the 31-year-old.
Pleased about this. He's made a living from running round like a headless chicken pointing that finger of his.
Yep, we always here he 'puts a shift in', but I could do that and I'd also be completely ineffective.
I don't know if he stopped practicing his free kicks and corners but for some reason he went from being great at them to borderline crap at them and that signaled the end of his usefulness.
Nice to see some of the deadwood being shifted, him and Pinear gone, let's have players here who are hungry and want to put a shift in for the club, we've carried too many passengers over the past few seasons.
I just think he was no longer effective , commitment and work rate first class but time he was moved on - not hungry enough for us now and too costly on a weekly basis.
SEB Gone!!! Who is going to Point at the Ball now? Who will run along side (at a slight distance) opposing ball players and know when to stop early enough to let them finish their run? We need some one else who can consistently pass our corners and free kicks to the opponents keeper or the crowd behind the goal! Who will stand in the centre of a triangle watching the ball being passed around. We now have No ONE who can Wave his ARMS Around! Who will moan at the referee! Who will be telling the Press what went wrong in the last game and how we know about it and how we will rectify it and be Brilliant next time! Who do we have who can Suck the Managers Schlong with the same effect as he did! We Will be without one of the stalwarts who allegedly was involved in the Di Canio complaints cos he couldn't get his own way! He was brilliant at talking himself into the team and now is GONE!!!! YIPEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
All these useless bastards could have been gone 4 years ago if half of the tossers on here hadn't hounded Paulo out of the club.
