Sunderland: Black Cats among clubs interested in West Ham playmaker Paul Fraser paulfraserechoChief Football Writer / Golf Writer please log in to view this image WANTED: West Ham United's Robert Snodgrass has admirers including Sunderland and Brighton 0 comments Get the latest local news straight to your inbox every day Sign up WEST HAM UNITED playmaker Robert Snodgrass is interesting Sunderland manager Simon Grayson after learning the former Leeds United man could be moving on again this summer. Grayson has turned his attention to strengthening Sunderland’s attacking options after landing his first three players since taking over from David Moyes. The Black Cats boss, who is also considering centre-back targets, has heard Snodgrass could be available after failing to make the sort of impact West Ham would have liked in his first six months since leaving Hull in an £8m deal. Premier League new-boys Brighton have already been credited with an interest which would certainly complicate matters, particularly because of the player’s top-flight wage. But Grayson, who got the best out of him during his time in charge at Elland Road, would be keen to at least have a go at persuading him to give Sunderland’s promotion bid a massive boost. Sunderland have money to spend, even if it is not as much as many other clubs in the Championship, but Grayson would hope an initial loan deal could be enough to prise Snodgrass into a move that would enable him to live nearer to his Glaswegian roots. Garry Monk, who is already close to buying Norwich’s Jonny Howson ahead of Sunderland, would also been keen if the price was right, with Middlesbrough likely to be another reluctant to pay the sort of £8m fee the Hammers paid at the turn of the year. Middlesbrough pushed hard to buy Snodgrass in January, only to lose out to the Hammers who were prepared to pay more money. Grayson knows it is important to make progress in his search for new forwards because of a distinct lack of players in the final third. Preston’s Jordan Hugill is the leading striker target, whereas Snodgrass would be more of an attacking midfielder. The Sunderland manager has successfully landed Everton defensive duo Ty Browning and Brendan Galloway on loan, with winger Aiden McGeady also due to arrive from Goodison Park in a £2m deal. But Jermain Defoe’s departure to Bournemouth and Fabio Borini’s move to AC Milan, following on from Victor Anichebe leaving for China, has left Grayson with just teenagers Joel Asoro and Josh Maja to play up front. There is the option of playing Duncan Watmore in that role, having previously operated there, but he tended to play wide last season and is battling to return to full fitness after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury last season. Middlesbrough-born Hugill, who had a spell on loan at Hartlepool two seasons ago, is expected to leave Preston and there has already been a £2.5m bid rejected from Ipswich. It is understood the Lilywhites are looking for £3m. Grayson is well liked by Snodgrass and Hugill and a deal for the latter is more likely at this stage purely because of the finances involved, even if Sunderland are willing to do what they can to bring in Snodgrass too.
Interesting the bit about us already landing 3 targets. The other two Everton lads must be done and ready to reveal in that case hopefully.
This would be a huge statement IMO if we signed Snodgrass. Would have walked into our first 11 last few seasons let alone in the once relegated afterwards.
Be a maginificent but this and really one we should have tried for start of last season. I can't see it happening but it would be a major boost this, smashing player.
I think he'll have better options but you never know he might fancy it. Good player for whoever gets him.
Brighton are also linked with him. If he chooses us then that would show a lack of ambition. Surely everybody would play premier league football giving the choice? Would be a class signing for us, though.
Agreed whole heartedly, a good player who completely dissappeared when he went to the Hammers. In his defence he always looked like a square peg in a round hole in the West Ham system and probably needs to move to kick start his career, hell stay in the Premiership if another club comes calling.
Didn't Kevin Nolan leave Newcastle to play for West Ham when WH were in the Championship? Depends how convincing your ambitions are imo. We could end up in this country with the Championship being a legitimate top league in Europe in terms of attracting players. We have ****ty teams in the PL like Swansea and Bournemouth and big teams that might have big money in the Championship, like Villa and Sunderland. We might not be far off Championship teams poaching players from PL teams.
****ing Monty will have his cock out over this man. Looks like it's only me what wouldn't have him. He is decent from dead balls but slow as ****.
Wolves have just signed two players from Porto - both incredibly highly regarded. There's probably more money flying around in the Championship than in many of the top leagues like Eredivisie and Portugal.
Yes. He was the one that promoted him through the youth team along with Adam Clayton, Maxi Gradel, Jonny Howson and Bradley Johnson.
Stewart Downing done it as well. I just don't see why anybody would want to compete against Burton Albion when you could be playing against the top teams in Europe.
Money talks. You could get a better wage playing for a Villa/Boro/SAFC than at a Bournemouth potentially. You're worth more to a Championship player as the key man compared to a squad filler in PL.
