Few papers cottoned on to the Cabral deal in Sky Sports paper talk Weimann in there again from the daily mirror The sun is posting an interesting story, apparently we are going for Gary Hooper and trying to make McClean part of the deal...
http://www.ftbpro.com/posts/richard.bell/206655/sunderland-keen-on-bournemouth-s-matt-ritchie Sunderland Keen on Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie Richard Bell27 - May - 2013 One of Bournemouth's key promotion winning players, Matt Ritchie, may become subject of a bid from Sunderland, once the transfer window opens again at the start of July. Paolo Di Canio, the Black Cats' boss, is a keen admirer of Ritchie, having managed the winger during his time as Swindon Town boss and now he is looking to bring his former player to the Stadium of Light. The summer will represent the Italian's first opportunity to shape the squad he inherited from Martin O'Neill and many are expecting the ruthless coach to show a fair amount of players the door. Di Canio will be looking to put together a side that will avoid being involved in a relegation scrap next season and Ritchie has been identified as one of the players who can bring youthful energy to the Sunderland team. The Cherries will be unwilling to let the 23 year old leave Dean Court, having only signed him from the Robins in January. The right winger was instrumental in Eddie Howe's side's promotion to the npower Championship, scoring three times in 17 appearances. A move to the Premier League may be too good of an offer to refuse for Ritchie and a reunion with his former boss may sweeten the deal.
http://www.rokerreport.com/2013/5/30/4380330/report-diakite-agrees-deal-with-sunderland Modibo Diakité is a name that has been strongly linked with Sunderland for the last month. The defender was actually reported to have agreed a deal with the club at the beginning of May, although that was quickly denied by the player's agent. It appeared as if Inter Milan were in pole position to sign Diakité but it looks as if the Black Cats have pounced and clinched a deal for the highly sought after centre-back. Who had also been linked with a move to Everton, Liverpool and Napoli. According to Sky Sports News, the defender has agreed to sign for Sunderland, although they mention we have agreed a fee with Lazio, the player is out of contract with Lazio in June and is likely to have agreed a deal to sign for Sunderland on July 1st on a Bosman free transfer. He is the latest Bosman signing that is believed to have signed for Sunderland, following on from his compatriot and fellow central defender Valentin Roberge of Maritimo and Basle's defensive midfielder Cabral. Following on from the recent signing of Altrincham prospect Duncan Watmore and the imminent arrival of Roberto De Fanti and Valentino Angeloni as Director of Football and Technical Director respectively, Sunderland are well on the way to being a completely different side and set-up in time for their return to pre-season training. For more on Modibo Diakité, check out our recent Scout's Notebook on the central defender.
Last season's Sunderland summer snore-fest feels like a distant memory right now. This time around the club have been ferociously busy, apparently tying up deals already with a plethora of new names linked. First of all, the formalities. Valentin Roberge (Maritimo) Mobido Diakite (Lazio) Diogo Viana (F.C. Penafiel) Danny Rose (Tottenham) Emmanuel Cascione (Pescara) Danilo D'Ambrosio (Torino) El Hadji Ba (Le Havre) Mauro Zarate (Lazio) Bas Dost (Wolfsburg) George Mandjeck (Auxerre) Charlie Austin (Burnley) Alfred Finnbogason (SC Heerenveen) Greg Sandomierski (Genk) Tom Allan (York City) Salif Sane (Nancy) Cabral (Basel) Lucas Orban (Tigre) Gary Hooper (Celtic) Fraser Forster (Celtic) Milos Krasic (Celtic) Wilfried Bony (Vitesse) Grant Holt (Norwich) Andreas Weimann (Aston Villa) 22 names have already made our list, and considering our standards of credibility are higher than most, that is quite some number for the first week of June. It has been widely reported that four of those players are already essentially in the bag. Sky Sports News are insistent that Sunderland have beaten off competition from Inter to secure the signature of Lazio defender Mobido Diakite, whilst Basel themselves appear to have confirmed Sunderland's Cabral capture. It is being widely reported all over that the Bosman signatures of Valentine Roberge and El Hadji Ba are also a mere formality at this point. Now it seems that Di Canio is turning his attention to attacking players. Fenerbache's exciting Serbian winger Milos Krasic named Sunderland as an interested party, whilst the Guardian tentatively - and ludicrously - linked the club with a move for Norwich's Grant Holt. We are dismissing that one though. Frankly going round punching horses makes more sense. The Journal is claiming a string of striker targets, however. Andreas Weimann of Aston Villa is among them, though that is a difficult one to see happening. Celtic's Gary Hooper and Vitesse's Wilfried Bony are interesting links, however. Bony in particular is a tantilising name, though the Ivorian is sure to have many admirers this summer and whether Sunderland are prepared to spend the required sum to beat off competition for him remains doubtful at this point. There is also predictably a lot of goalkeeper chatter, with Simon Mignolet linked with both Liverpool and Arsenal. Sunderland seem determined to keep hold of him and he himself doesn't seem to be in much of a rush to leave, but multiple sources are naming Celtic's Fraser Forster as Di Canio's contingency plan. One of the more random names is that of Lucas Orban. The Argentinian left back - who was reported to have caught the eye of new chief scout Valentino Angeloni last season when the Italian was at Inter - is said to have been the subject of a bid from Sunderland. One man who will not be moving to the Stadium of Light this summer, however, is Salif Sane. The defender has completed a move to Hannover. In terms of outgoings, Ji Dong-won seems to be a wanted man with a queue of German clubs looking to keep him in the Bundesliga. Augsburg remain interested, though their option to turn his loan into a permanent deal has now expired. That will probably just about do it for this week! Remember you can keep your eye on stories as they happen via our DEDICATED SUNDERLAND TRANSFER CENTRE.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2335401/Sunderland-hoping-pip-Norwich-Southampton-Celtic-striker-Gary-Hooper.html Gary Hooper rumour is gathering pace Admittedly though it is the daily fail
Transfer Talk: Sunderland Hope to Win Race to Sign £7m Celtic Striker Gary Hooper Sunderland are showing interest in Celtic striker Gary Hooper as they consider overhauling their squad this summer. The £7m- rated striker, 25, has a year left on his contract and Norwich are expected to revive their interest while Hull, Southampton and Stoke City are also among his admirers. Those clubs would be looking to offer around £4.5million for Hooper but Sunderland can also offer better wages.
Sky sports paper talk The Sun: Wickhams away as Di Canio dislikes him (dont think its true but therr you go) The Mirror: Lucas Orban set to sign for us
Valentin Roberge (Maritimo) Mobido Diakite (Lazio) Diogo Viana (F.C. Penafiel) Danny Rose (Tottenham) Emmanuel Cascione (Pescara) Danilo D'Ambrosio (Torino) El Hadji Ba (Le Havre) Mauro Zarate (Lazio) Bas Dost (Wolfsburg) George Mandjeck (Auxerre) Charlie Austin (Burnley) Alfred Finnbogason (SC Heerenveen) Greg Sandomierski (Genk) Tom Allan (York City) Salif Sane (Nancy) Cabral (Basel) Lucas Orban (Tigre) Gary Hooper (Celtic) Fraser Forster (Celtic) Milos Krasic (Celtic) Wilfried Bony (Vitesse) Grant Holt (Norwich) Andreas Weimann (Aston Villa) All in bold make sense to me. Weimann I feel would be incredible foil for Fletch, work rate, and vastly improved. I personally think we should grab Lichaj on a free as well, I see a lot of undeveloped potential in the lad, and we need 2 RB's, realistically.
The Birmingham Mail claims that Aston Villa forward Andi Weimann has agreed a new three-year contract with the club. by GRAEME BAILEY 11:04 AM
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...gs-after-17m-capture-of-paulinho-8681744.html Tottenham are in talks with three clubs, including Sunderland, regarding the £5m sale of midfielder Tom Huddlestone while Scott Parker, Emmanuel Adebayor, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Jermain Defoe and Clint Dempsey are also available. Hope we lose out tbh.
http://www.newspostleader.co.uk/spo...ision-looms-on-inter-milan-s-duncan-1-5811963 SUNDERLAND must contemplate whether to persist in their pursuit of Alfred Duncan after reportedly failing to strike a resolution for the Inter Milan midfielder. Duncan is one of three youngsters being linked with the Black Cats, along with defender Ibrahima Mbaye and attacking midfielder Daniel Bessa. Ghana international Duncan has been one of Sunderlandâs prime targets this summer, but Inter are holding out for an offer around the £7million mark for the 20-year-old. Sunderland director of football Roberto De Fanti held talks with Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio on Friday over Duncan, where the Wearsiders are mooted to have seen an improved bid rejected. But despite reports yesterday, that is unlikely to signal the end of Sunderlandâs interest in Duncan. De Fanti has earmarked Duncan as an ideal component for the brand of football Paolo Di Canio is hoping to build at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland also holding discussions over Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone â as exclusively revealed by the Echo last week. Inter have reportedly rejected Sunderlandâs approach for Mbaye too, although they are willing to let Bessa leave on a season-long loan. That deal is far from being concluded though. Wingers Callum McManaman and Matt Ritchie were also linked with a move to Wearside yesterday. McManaman impressed after breaking into the Wigan team during the second half of last season and is not short on admirers, despite the Laticsâ relegation to the Championship. Sunderland are reportedly looking to pip Everton to the signing of the 22-year-old, but the mooted £7m fee is likely to be dissuade both clubs, while the Wearsiders would face competition from elsewhere for the Scouser. The Black Cats were credited with an interest in Bournemouthâs Ritchie earlier in the summer, with Di Canio working with the 23-year-old at former club Swindon. And there was renewed speculation over Ritchie yesterday after QPR boss and former Bournemouth manager and advisor Harry Redknapp, confirmed Sunderlandâs interest in a national newspaper column.
You reckon? Don't think it would have mattered. For me our biggest failing was the inability to connect defence with attack. It was that cm spot that was occupied between Larsson, Vaughan and Gardener that was the biggest problem last season. Think if that had been sorted from the start we would have got much more out Sess and Johnson and in turn Fletcher (who by no means disgraced himself but if he had had more service, wow).
