Mind its from todays echo, so make of it what you will. Who can be the alternative target? Rhodes name will crop up, but who else? Sunderland are moving in on the targets they have identified as replacements for Crystal Palace-bound Connor Wickham. But Charlie Austin and Fabio Borini are NOT among those on Sunderland’s hit-list, despite the pair both being mooted as obvious contenders to boost the Black Cats attack. It is thought that Sunderland are already in talks with several clubs over possibilities to take Wickham’s place Wickham is expected to be confirmed as a Palace player over the weekend after travelling down to London yesterday to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical with the Eagles. Sunderland will pocket around £9million when Wickham’s move is rubber-stamped, which will supplement the money already in the club’s transfer kitty for further recruits. It is thought that Sunderland are already in talks with several clubs over possibilities to take Wickham’s place in Dick Advocaat’s striking ranks, rather than confining their search to just one player. But the Echo understands that Austin – who netted 18 goals for relegated QPR last season – is not a player that Sunderland are looking at. Newcastle are the front-runners to sign Austin, who has a £15m asking price on his head, but Sunderland will not be battling with their neighbours for the 26-year-old. Neither are Sunderland interested in reviving their interest in Borini after their summer-long pursuit of the Italian 12 months ago. While former Sunderland loan star Borini is surplus to requirements at Liverpool and is on good terms with Sunderland sporting director Lee Congerton, Advocaat has turned his attention elsewhere. Rumours in Turkey that Sunderland have made a big-money bid for forward Moussa Sow - repeatedly linked with the Black Cats over recent seasons - are also thought to be wide of the mark. The money gained from Wickham’s imminent exit has given Sunderland some room to manoeuvre in the transfer market though. After the addition of four players to the squad last month, Sunderland’s spending had been temporarily put on hold, until Congerton was able to remove some of the dead-wood from the wage bill.But after Palace met Sunderland’s asking price for Wickham this week, the 22-year-old’s switch to Selhurst Park has freed up a sizeable chunk of wages, while also topping up the funds for further recruits
I'd be a tad disappointed if we had to sell Wickham before we could buy again. Selling him was good business but surely Ellis had promised Dick a bigger war chest than we had spent. Surely we were already in talks regarding a striker and a midfielder prior to this happening.
Not sure we had to sell before buying in order to generate transfer funds, think it is more a case of having three medicore forwards in the books all on a big wedge. While the proceeds from the sale of Wickham will hopefully be recycled into the budget it is the £40k a week wages that is freed up that is most important. Similarly if we manage to shift Fletch or Graham, even though we might only get a few million for them, the amount of wages it will free up will be a huge boost to our transfer dealings
We are not that stupid to let go of a 'key' striker (for the want of a better adjective) with nothing concrete in terms of a replacement. My hope, guess, or whatever you want to call it is, SOW ! Please !!!
I'd be gutted if we signed Sow. A few years back, maybe, but not now. He's untried in the Prem, only averaged 1 in 2 in France and Turkey (not the strongest leagues), and he turns 30 this year. And they want £10m?? **** off, it would be an awful deal imo.
Thing is, with the system Dick plays, we don't need to have an immediate replacement lined up. We currently have Defoe, Fletch, Graham, Lens, and Johnno vying for the front 3 places. Admittedly the first three would all rather play down the centre but that's also Wickham's favoured position. We were saturated with CFs imo. Good bit of business.
The above is spot on. Lens replaced Wickham on the left of the front 3. Were not looking for a Wickham replacement, we are looking for someone to improve our forward line. Really a quality player to play right of Defoe, or to play down the middle if Defoe is to play on the right side. If we are signing someone for that central role, either Fletcher or Graham must also be sold.
I can see Fletcher seeing out his contract. 60k a week ffs, nee wonder the alter boy shaggers pulled out of the deal!
We need a Creative Midfielder as a priority. Just can't see us running off looking at stikers and avoiding the priorities. We've got Defoe Fletch and Graham for the CF roll and also Lens can play there. Creative wise centrally we've got Giacc, and AJ who's awful in the middle and is of to stand trial soon. I bet our inquiries aren't even for strikers.
Who'd you go for mate for the creative MF position? Do you not think Larsson is up to the job? What about the little Italian lad? Too injured? Welcome to Question time with your host Mr. Juan
Took Larsson nearly three seasons to adapt from being a RM to a CM, I don't think we or Larsson has the time to convert him again. Giacc will come good with an injury free run, problem he's played less than 40 league games for us since coming he and that's been broken up by injury. To put all our faith in him would be dodgy. Looking at player Dick has worked with Alan Dzagoev would be the obvious target for me, Never stepped up to a top club when he had the chance and looks like the chance has passed him by, maybe ready for a crack at this league.
That's a great shout although the only time I've really seen him was when he burst on the scene at Euro 2012. Looking at Wiki he hasn't played very much for CSKA in the last few seasons - anyone know if he's injury prone or just dropped down the pecking order? If the latter, this could be a really decent option for us.
Fletcher will probably do really well this season. He will want to put himself in the shop window for massive wages next season once he is a free agent. Typical mercenary......
Where do you get your info from mate? He's played 81 games in the last 3 seasons. Scoring 17 and assisting 24 in that time.
Just Wikipedia lol. I was looking purely at the league games column - 16 last year and 18 the year before. Hadn't taken into account the Russian League only plays 30 games a season but that's still only about half a season he's played? Having said that, I just had a look on transfermarkt (http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alan-dzagoev/verletzungen/spieler/69683 - no idea how reliable?) and seems he only missed 4/5 games each season due to injury, which is meh. Maybe he's just not in favour... Could work out very well for us? I'd be disappointed if the club isn't at least looking into him as an option!
30 games a season is decent like, he had a couple of light injuries last season too Transfermarkt is very good at data collection for things like player appearances and result logging, but it's rubbish at valuations and base their own club finance assessments on their own valuations which is decided by in the same way Wiki is, it's a German site so the bulk of their valuations are from the German Public making their own assessment, when a player transfers often the valuations are then changed on players but half the time they get their currencies mixed up. It's a bit of a mess. So in game stats they're great, anything transfer or money related ignore completely.
If we're realistic we'll move for which ever target becomes available first regardless of the position
