PDC to listen to offers for Sess?

15 August 2013 8:30 | By Chris Young

STEPHANE Sessegnon IS part of Paolo Di Canio’s plans at the Stadium of Light, the Sunderland head coach has confirmed.

It has been a second successive summer of speculation regarding Sessegnon’s future, despite the Benin international starting all five of Sunderland’s pre-season friendlies.

Sunderland were understood to be willing to listen to offers for Sessegnon earlier in the summer, while interest emerged earlier this week from Qatari side Al-Jaish.

But, after being impressed by Sessegnon’s attitude during pre-season, Di Canio wants the 29-year-old to be part of his overhauled Black Cats side.

The head coach told the Echo: “He’s part of my plans.

“Anything can happen, not just with Sess, John O’Shea, anybody.

“But, with what I’ve seen from him during the summer, we’ve now got a good footballer.”

Di Canio says he has seen a changed personality from Sessegnon over recent weeks too.

The former Paris Saint-Germain forward, who penned a new Sunderland contract last August, is one of the most reserved characters in the Black Cats dressing room.

But Di Canio believes the new regime at the Academy of Light – which sees the entire squad sit down together for lunch after training – has produced more unity among his players.

“I don’t want to say he’s becoming joker,” added Di Canio.

“But he’s speaking at the table when they’re having lunch and making a joke.

“That proves that there’s been a change.

“It is not because of Paolo Di Canio. It’s because of the environment we’ve changed.

“It’s helped people to push out and relate with the others and show their personality.

“He is never going to be the most open man in the world because he is shy, but, with his team-mates, he is open.

“Before, when I tried to speak to Sess five minutes after training, someone would say ‘he’s gone’.

“He would have a quick shower and go.

“Now the fact he spends time with the others, you can see, that he’s having fun and that will help on the field.

“You can see how he’s participated in the games. He’s another player.”

 

Good to hear, very talented player on his day.

 

Best news all pre-season.

 

I will take great pleasure in printing this article and rubbing my Dad's nose in it after the argument I had with him last night!!

In all the press articles that were bandied around over the past few months about Sess being allowed to leave, not one of them had a quote from Paolo Di Canio - this one, the only one that says Sessegnon is staying, has quotes everywhere and is an interview with the bloke about Sessegnon and the team - by the way, I love Paolo!! The stuff he is saying is fantastic - lets hope the season is just as exciting (in a good way!!)

 

Ha, good timing for this article to come out then!

 

vety good news. never any quotes from those involved meant stories were just that. it's a bit like all the huddlestone rumours...no quotes from our guys...with pdc hinting the player should be young, with character enough to step right in....Will Hughes anyone?

 

Terrific youngster I agree, but barca were sniffing around him last season, so could be out of reach anyway. If we bought him I'd like to see him out on loan back to derby for the first few months

 

You can sense PDC's frustration in other articles on the echo website at not getting the CM he wants, you have to accept that sometimes as a manager though and deal with what you have got, we wont see PDC's team until next season really.

Good news on Sess as you could never replace a player of his quality in time and in budget.

 

Bet Paolo was thinking, of course he's in my ****ing plan!. Journos forget it's them who start the speculation. They heard 'after last seasons displays we'll listen to any serious decent offers' and took that as Sess is for sale. ****ers init.

 

Good

 

I like the comment about everyone having a price - including John O'Shea - obviously means he thinks highly of O'Shea (Good news IMO)

 

Well, you cant get better than horses mouth info (dont tell the nags that though) and I think this will stop once and for allt he speculation surrounding Sessegnon.

Either way and I could have lived easily with both outcomes tbh, its better to have stability this late in the proceedings.

 

Very strong rumours hes flying to Qatar tomorow to tie up a deal. If hes in the squad its fake if not bye bye Sess!!

 

.

 

****!

Andy ‏@SAFCsource2m
Stephane Sessegnon is expected in Doha to finalise negotiations with El Jaish and formally sign a contract. http://bit.ly/1dg6MZa #SAFC

 

I don't believe it. After all the things PDC had said about Sess in the last few days he won't be going

 

I smell bs aswell mate

 

Look, Ive said this time and time again.

If he stays and performs great.

If he goes and we get decent money and replace him with better, great.

If he stays and is hit and miss we both lose?

If he is sold and nobody comes in then its back to the Bruce style of **** up.


If he goes I will neither be shocked or disappointed but I will be livid if he is sold and no replacements are found.

 

Just athought . . . . . could Giacc be his ready-made replacement?

then if so . . . who is the left midf/winger ??????

KTF

 

Echo on it now


@YoungSunEcho
Sessegnon to Qatar speculation continues. PDC said this week that He was part of his plans, but ‪#‎safc‬ have been looking to remove his wages