Premier League experience will be the priority for Gus Poyet in the January transfer window. The Sunderland boss has already held talks with director of football Roberto De Fanti and chief scout Valentino Angeloni to brief them on the positions he wants to strengthen. But, with the Black Cats likely to be in a relegation scrap for the remainder of the season, Poyet is aware that he cannot afford to sign new players who will need time to adjust. He needs recruits that can hit the ground running, and ideally that means players who already have top-flight experience in this country. âIn January, you need players who can come in and play immediately,â said Poyet. âWhen you are in the position we are, you canât wait. âThat is the priority, and we have already been looking at players who are here in the Premier League. âBut is that 100 per cent possible? No. âYou keep looking for specific positions and the quantity of players available in England is sometimes not enough. âBut to sign players who have played in this league would be the ideal.â Sunderland brought in 14 players over the summer, five of which â Vito Mannone, Ki-Sung-Yueng, Jozy Altidore, Andrea Dossena and Fabio Borini â have Premier League experience. But the other nine had never played at this level, and of those only Ondrej Celustka and Emanuele Giaccherini have become first-team regulars. While Poyetâs main target this season is simply to guide Sunderland to safety, he will also have one eye on the long-term when the January window rolls around. He said: âYou have to look at players that you bring in. âAre they going to be of an age where they will be at the club for four or five years, or just for six months? âOf course, we need to strengthen some positions just to help us get safe. âBut that doesnât mean we will pass up on players who could be part of the future.â
Certainly seems like he`s ahead of the situation. The OT suggests to me he is instructing the dof & scouts as to his wants and needs which is exactly the way it should be imo. A lot depends on Ellis though.
1 hour ago Sunderland are looking to bring former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan back to the Premier League on loan. (The People)
I'd take him. Thing is, do we need a striker? It's hard to work out what we do need when so many of our games are interrupted by sendings off.
I don't know, he can play, not just score goals, he's cool on the ball, both footed. Would be decent for half a season because he's an intelligent footballer who can still do the biz. I just don't think we need a striker.
I don't see what he has to gain/prove by coming to a side that is right in the mire. We need players who will be hungry, I don't think Forlan would be at this stage of his career.
Really? It's a bad job when we have 29 million pounds worth of strikers at our disposal. I agree with a few injuries we would need one, but like I say it's a bad job.
I don't think half a season here, or not is going to effect his chances of making the cut for Uruguay. He is far too experienced.
As good as he is and has been, I just don't thonk he'll bust a gut and put his body on the line for us. Sure, I don't doubt he'd bag a goal or two, or provide moments of class, but when the chips are down I can't see him being prepared knuckle down.
Milner, Rose, Welbeck, Defoe .......... let's aim high. While I'm on, whatever happened to Alan Hutton?
Defoe, deffo. scores goals for fun. Goals win games. Cannot see it happening but guarantee him the football and him and Fletch would do the business imo.
