Long-time Sunderland target Johan Larsson has revealed that he is open to leaving current club Elfsborg this winter. Larsson, 24, has been linked with a move to the Black Cats since last season after impressing in the Swedish top-flight, with Premier League rivals Everton also named as potential suitors, along with a host of Eredivise clubs. The emerging right-back won the league’s Defender of the Year award this past season after captaining his side to a fourth-place finish while scoring an impressive eight goals in 30 games, and would be keen on converting his recent form into a high-profile move abroad. “My ambition as a player is always to take the next step,” he told national newspaper Expressen. “However, it is still possible that it takes place in Elfsborg. A lot can happen there, too. “As it is, I belong to Elfsborg and will soon go on the January tour with the national team.” SEE ALSO: Sunderland misfit in discussions over MLS return - report Turkish giants Besiktas have also emerged as a potential destination for Larsson in recent weeks, but it remains to be seen what kind of fee Elfsborg would demand for his signature. The one-time capped Sweden international still has another 12 months left on his current deal, but Sunderland should have the spending power to lure him to the Premier League if a potential approach is made.
A MATCH-WINNER is at the top of Sunderland’s wish-list in this month’s transfer window. But head coach Gus Poyet admits it’s a challenge to land such a player, when they are invariably accompanied by a premium price tag. Sunderland have netted just 18 goals in 20 Premier League outings prior to today’s visit of Liverpool, with an attacker understandably the priority for Poyet and sporting director Lee Congerton this month. The Black Cats are conscious of their one available domestic loan from their top flight rivals and that remains the likeliest option for a new recruit. But Poyet says rival clubs are wary of letting dangermen depart this month, either permanently or on loan. “There is a position which everyone knows we need to improve, which is something that will help us to win games,” said Poyet. “Then the others (positions) are details. “They are depending on what is available. It’s very difficult. “Normally when you pick a player in whatever position, and he’s going to be important for you, he’s going to be playing regularly somewhere else. “When he’s playing somewhere else, it means he’s important for that team. “If he’s important for that team and it’s the middle of the season, it costs more or it’s not even possible. “If someone came to me and wanted to buy one of our main players – the ones who play week-in, week-out – they’re going to have to really make a terrific offer. “If not, he’s not going to leave. It’s as simple as that. “It’s the same the other way, but we’re working, that’s the main thing.” While Sunderland are yet to recruit any fresh faces, they are not alone, with transfer activity quiet throughout the top flight. “There are not too many players available and the ones that are, most people are trying to sign them,” added Poyet. “It’s good for players and their agents! “But I’m calm because players are coming back (from injury) and there’s going to be different options. “We’re working, working hard. It’s not easy. “There haven’t been too many moves in the Premier Leagues; only a couple of buys. “We’re just working and trying our best. “Sometimes when you do deals, you think you have a chance and then you don’t and you go backwards and start again.” Meanwhile, Poyet has confirmed that Sunderland are not among the clubs chasing a loan deal for Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo.
Cermere defoe! Toronto has several legitimate offers on the table for Defoe. But rather than a strict sale, it is looking at a cash-and-swap that would bring a viable striker in return and start a domino effect elsewhere on the roster. U.S. international striker Jozy Altidore of Sunderland is high on their shopping list.
Tom Lees is a £3million target for Premier League strugglers Sunderland. Black Cats boss Gus Poyet wants to bolster his defensive options and he has identified Sheffield Wednesday Lees, 24, as a priority signing after tracking the former England Under-21 international’s form over the past two months. Lees has been a revelation since joining the Owls on a free from Leeds last summer, delivering a series of consistently impressive performances in central defence for manager Stuart Gray’s side. But he can operate equally well at right-back - and it is the Birmingham-born defender’s versatility that also appeals to Poyet. Lees signed a three-year deal at Hillsborough, and Wednesday are desperate to hang on to a player Gray sees as crucial to his side’s chances of making the play-offs. But the Yorkshire outfit could be tempted to cash-in on one of their prize assets if they are hit with a big enough bid from the Stadium of Light. Sunderland targeting £3million Tom Lees from Sheff Wed The Sheffield Wednesday centre back has impressed this season and the relegation-threatened Black Cats need a lift mirror.co.uk Like Comment Share
STRIKERS MAN!!! ****ING STRIKERS!!! When is the penny going to ****ing drop??????????????. 18 goals in 21 games tells its own story. This isn't ****ing rocket science!!!!! Strikers score goals! Time to stop worrying about defence, it's sorted. Goals will keep us up. Nothing else.
Does he still have pace to burn? I can't imagine he will continue to be as quick, whilst his ball control has probably deteriorated...
Well, we need another right back for sure. Fine by me, provided we have the other crucial positions being sorted up top. Playmaker and striker.
In asda after the match yesterday and spoke to a lad who had also been to the match and he said he heard that Cattermole is going to Liverpool and Fletcher to Hull. Probably bullshit but you never know.
I was out Friday night where I met a friend of a friend from Yarm. He claimed he sees him often as his Aunty is best friends with Cattermole's Mum. He reckons Catt's isn't happy and is looking for a bigger club and play for England. He hope his agent can find an interested party this month but admits he have to maintain his from till the end of the season as potential suitors(plural) want to see if he can maintain consistency. Don't shoot the messenger, I can't even vouch for the lad.
TORONTO want American striker Jozy Altidore to decide on his future before the end of the month as Sunderland weigh up whether to tempt Jermain Defoe to Wearside. Sunderland are just a point above the relegation zone after Saturday’s defeat to Liverpool and head coach Gus Poyet is desperate for some transfer movement. The possibility of landing Defoe is a genuine one, after Toronto made it clear that the former England forward is available for a return to the Premier League before the transfer deadline on February 2. The 32-year-old has been told to explore his options over here and is being linked with a number of clubs, including Queens Park Rangers. Sunderland, who have regularly targeted him over the last six years, are in the mix if they are willing to compete for his wages. But what makes the situation more interesting is the prospect of Altidore, who Poyet is willing to let go after a frustrating 18 months on Wearside, heading back across the Atlantic as part of a deal. A deal is far from certain because of Defoe’s wages and he is training with Tottenham's Academy squad, but Toronto are desperate to get a deal done this month. They want any new arrivals – like Altidore – in the squad building up to the start of the Major League Soccer campaign on March 7. Toronto are unwilling to let Defoe leave for nothing and reports in Canada suggest they have lowered their asking price from £6m to £3m to try to get a quick deal. There is also a suggestion that they are willing to do a straight swap deal for Altidore, providing Sunderland take on Defoe’s reputed £70,000-a-week salary. Sunderland have money to spend this month, although sporting director Lee Congerton is under orders from owner Ellis Short to be creative in the transfer market rather than spend for the sake of it. There is, though, an acceptance that Poyet is short of options in the final third. Poyet was forced to give Danny Graham, wanted by Wigan, an outing as a substitute against Liverpool on Saturday as well as youngster Mikael Mandron. The Sunderland boss has come under fire since the defeat to Liverpool for some of his tactical decisions. Question marks were raised as to why it took his team until half-time to cope with the visitors’ wing-back system effectively, while there was frustration at his decision to take off attacking players Emanuele Giaccherini, Connor Wickham and Adam Johnson when they were trailing. Poyet said: “First, because we were chasing the game and we needed something different, I made the changes I did. Will Buckley is the only player who can go in behind. The others are not willing to go in behind. They do not have the right characteristics to do that. “You need to get in behind defenders. We put Danny on because he has been sharp. Connor was too isolated and there was something missing. I felt Danny would give us something we didn't have first half. “We had an option to play Ricky Alvarez but he had only trained a day and a half. Then we put Mandron on for Jonno because Jonno became a father on Thursday. He wanted to play but he had not trained or slept so was tired; 85 minutes was enough for him. “It is decisions. I am not bothered who thinks it is strange. If we score and win I am a genius. If we don’t win (people say) it is a strange situation.” Sunderland hope to have Lee Cattermole back on the training ground this week after groin trouble, but he has not played since before the turn of the year and may not be risked at Tottenham this Saturday.
Jermain Defoe’s wage demands are likely to scupper any plans to swap the Toronto striker for Sunderland’s Jozy Altidore. The Canadian media mooted the idea at the weekend, and in many ways it would be perfect for the Black Cats – allowing them to sign the proven goalscorer they so badly need and offload Altidore in the process. But Defoe’s £90,000-a-week wages have already ended Queens Park Rangers’ interest and there seems little chance Sunderland would be prepared to come close to matching that. With Tottenham Hotspur also considering a move, a return to his former club seems far more likely for the 55-cap England international. With three years of his four-year contract still to run, Major League Soccer side Toronto do not have to sell the striker cheaply, but with Defoe eager to return to England it seems they are willing to do a deal. Defoe scored 124 Premier League goals before leaving White Hart Lane for the MLS 12 months ago. Altidore has had just two over two-and-a-half seasons with Hull City and Sunderland. But the 25-year-old is well thought of in North America, thanks largely to his record of 25 goals in 76 appearances for the United States of America. Defoe has been training with Tottenham during the American off-season. Sunderland would love to cut their losses on a player who cost them £7m, but Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool highlighted the need to bring in a replacement.
I want fresh blood in now ...ffs! No matter who we get, no matter who we've been monitoring over the last five months, why the hell does that signature have to be at the eleventh hour ?...it boils my piss !!! If we've been in contact with loans or buys months ago, surely discussions would have included we want that player ready to sign within the first week of the transfer window. Yes we have to move certain personnel out sometimes before we move them in, but don't forget, Gus didn't fill he Club's squad quota in the Summer window we were informed. So what's the delay ?....those targets must have agreed to sign. I know it's 'swings and roundabouts' and that there is always twists and turns with other clubs needing to move players on first etc, but like I've said, I'm talking about new players deals that should have already been agreed from months of discussion....unless of course, Congerton et al have not been successful in securing any such deals over the last five months or so.
For a club in our predicament, a deal should have been in place for potential signings to come in within days of the window opening, not like you say, at the eleventh hour, that's ****ing bollocks and people not doing their jobs right.
Precisely !!......any 'would be' signings should be in place now, unless they've been unsuccessful scouting anyone since August !
As Gus has said himself, everyone can see what we need, so why are we waiting? I also remember a quote from Gus back in October stating he had been in meetings with Short and Congerton to discuss January targets. Is it a case that we know who we want? but they're too expensive? Do we know who we want, but they won't come? wage demands too high? we need goal scorers NOW, not in 3 weeks time FFS.
But as I've said Pops, I'm certain Gus had meetings with them all to discuss all this. Same old story yet again mate, we'll sign our 'last throw of the dice' signing at the last hour of deadline day. If we'd had someone in early they could have had 4 or 5 games in by then and right up to speed with our system.
Absolutely but it doesn`t come into the equation unless the board agrees. Have we got any money? If so how much? if not why not? What are they doing? Are they happy to bring the debt down by a couple of mill per season? Do they see that as good business? I wonder if the board need to get their bloody fingers out. Time we saw some progress.
I think you've nailed it there mate, it's the American way. While I'm sure that Ellis wants some degree of success, he'll also have a business model that he'll stick to rigidly, I don't think will involve shelling out millions on transfers> Sadly I think them days are gone now, once bitten and all that.
