WIGAN Athletic are trying to pull off a sensational swoop to bring former favourite Jordi Gomez back to the DW Stadium from Premier League Sunderland. The 31-year-old swapped the north west for the north east in the summer of 2014 after Latics fell in the Championship play-offs to QPR. However, after a reasonable first year on Wearside, he fell down the pecking order in his second season and was loaned out to Blackburn Rovers in January. Latics were actually offered the chance to sign Gomez before he moved to Ewood Park, only for finances to scupper the proposed deal. “Jordi’s agent did give us a call, and it was there,” Caldwell told the Evening Post at the time. “But I felt we were fine in that area, and financially it was a difficult one to do. “Jordi is a player I obviously played with, and know the quality he has. “It would have been great to have him back...but it wasn’t to be. “I work for the football club, and I have to do the right thing for the football club - that’s what I get paid to do. “If it doesn’t make sense financially, then we’re not going to do it. “We have to work within certain budgets, and we have done that.” Intriguingly, Caldwell did leave the door wide open to the deal being resurrected this summer, were Latics to win promotion back to the Championship. “You never know - in football you have to be open to everything,” he admitted. “We’ll look at that in the summer, when hopefully we will have that problem.” Having booked their place back in the Championship with the League One title in the bag, Latics are now in a much stronger position to put together a package that could be of interest to Gomez and Sunderland. Boss Caldwell is actively looking to bolster his playing squad for next term, but there would be no more popular signing than the return of the mercurial Spaniard. Defender Stephen Warnock has already made permanent his loan move from Derby, one of ‘four or five’ targets Caldwell had been looking to bring in. Gomez, it seems, could well be next through the door, if a deal can be struck which suits all parties. Although the playmaker moved to Sunderland on a free transfer, the Black Cats may want compensating for the final 12 months of his contract. Gomez, who won the Player of the Year award during his last season with Latics, would also have to take a pay cut to fit into the Wigan wage structure. But with one more year of parachute payments on the way, Latics will do all they can to make the deal happen.
he was like a spitfire against a stealth fighter i could run faster and thats saying something, took him 3 weeks to get up the field for a counter attack
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...talks-with-two-premier-league-clubs-1-7966490 Clement Chantome. Whee?
Seems to have been around forever. Tidy enough player usually plays as a Adam, I'd imagine it would be a squad signing rather than first 11.
The Black Cats are plotting an approach for Serge Aurier, reports claim. please log in to view this image Aurier in action against Manchester City's Gael Clichy Sunderland are considering an ambitious move for Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier, a report in Friday's Sunnewspaper (page 74) claims. The Ivorian played 21 times as PSG stormed to the Ligue 1 title last season, but was disciplined for an off-field incident in February and featured in two of the Parisiens' last 13 fixtures. A move away from the Parc des Princes now seems likely for Aurier, and Sunderland, who've allegedly been quoted £10 million, could pounce. Sam Allardyce's men have also been linked with Ligue 1 full-backs Jeremy Pied and Djibril Sidibe (Sunderland Echo), though signing Aurier, a reported target for Arsenal prior to his move to Paris, would represent something of a coup. The 23-year-old progressed through the renowned academy of RC Lens, which also produced Geoffrey Kondogbia and Raphael Varane, and signed for Laurent Blanc's side via Toulouse two summers ago.
This is the guy. He was a big fan favorite at PSG. I was wondering where he was when they played City in August. He was a beast in the group stage of CL.
Even if we don't get him it's good to see that we're looking at a higher calibre of player than Jones.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier suspended by club By Rory O'Callaghan Last Updated: 15/02/16 5:44pm please log in to view this image Serge Aurier has been an integral part of PSG's squad this season Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier has been suspended by the club and will not face Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday. Aurier's suspension comes after a video emerged online in which he appeared to abuse his manager Laurent Blanc, as well as his team-mates Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Salvatore Sirigu and Gregory van der Wiel. The 23 year-old allegedly directed homophobic slurs at a number of club figures, including Blanc, in the video. The Ivory Coast international, who has made 24 appearances for PSG this season, originally denied he was the man in the video but later apologised, saying he had made a "big mistake". "I am here to say sorry to the coach, the club and my team-mates, and to the supporters because they are the most important people," he said. "I want to apologise especially to the coach, I can only thank him for all he has done for me since I arrived in Paris. He wanted me and since I came here everything has gone really well. I owe him a lot and that is why I apologise sincerely to him for what was said, which I deeply regret. "I will accept any sanction the club impose on me regarding this incident. I made a mistake, it was unforgivable and I am ready to face all the consequences." PSG have suspended the defender indefinitely which rules him out of next week's crucial Champions League last 16 first-leg tie at the Parc de Princes. A statement on PSG's website read: "This Sunday, the club have learned of a video distributed on social media in which Serge Aurier responds to questions from internet users. "The video, filmed in a private context, contains certain comments which are clearly unacceptable from a Paris St Germain player, towards certain team-mates and especially towards coach Laurent Blanc. "The club have opened disciplinary proceedings against the player, accompanied by a provisional suspension. Serge Aurier therefore will not figure in the squad to play against Chelsea on Tuesday in the Champions League. "Paris St Germain offer their full support to coach Laurent Blanc and to the players who, quite rightly, feel offended by these comments which are against the values of the club." Also See: PSG defender Serge Aurier 'arrested in Paris for hitting police officer' By AFP Sport Last Updated: 30/05/16 11:28am please log in to view this image Serge Aurier: PSG defender French police detained Paris Saint-Germain star Serge Aurier on Monday after he hit an officer outside a nightclub, police sources told French news agency AFP. The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international, who has been regularly in trouble with his club, is alleged to have "insulted and hit a police officer," one source told AFP. Paris Saint-Germain confirmed that Aurier is in custody but made no other comment. please log in to view this image Serge Aurier celebrates Aurier "elbowed" the policeman in the throat, according to a legal source. He has been held at a police station near the Champs Elysee for "deliberate violence against a person of public authority," the source added. Paris Saint-Germain briefly suspended Aurier in February after he appeared in a video insulting club coach Laurent Blanc. Aurier later admitted he had carried out a "stupid mistake" and apologized. Aurier signed for PSG in 2015 after a six-month loan at the French champions from Toulouse, where he played for three years. He has 31 caps for the Ivory Coast, and played at the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil, before being shortlisted for the team of the tournament at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Holy crap. That's quite a year he's having.
Former Newcastle United transfer target Bas Dost is among the strikers being considered by Sunderland. Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is keen to boost his forward line this summer, with Jermain Defoe currently the only orthodox central striker on the club’s books. The Black Cats have been in discussions with West Ham over a move for Diafra Sakho - potentially available if the Hammers fulfil their objective of bringing in a big-money striker this summer. But it is understood that Sunderland - along with Hamburg - are keeping tabs on Wolfsburg’s 6ft 5in targetman Dost as an alternative option, although they have not yet made any formal contact with the German club. Dost was on Newcastle’s hit-list 12 months ago and the Magpies held talks over a move for the 27-year-old, before eventually switching their attentions to Aleksandar Mitrovic. But Wolfsburg are thought to be ready to cash-in on Dost this summer, as he prepares to enter the final 12 months of his contract with the Bundesliga side. Dost - who has netted 36 goals in 84 Bundesliga appearances - wants to test himself in the Premier League, while Wolfsburg have held talks with Spurs target Vincent Janssen as a possible replacement. Meanwhile, Sunderland, along with West Brom, have been credited with an interest in Norwich’s Robbie Brady. The Republic of Ireland international is one of those likely to leave Carrow Road after Norwich’s relegation, although the Canaries have reportedly slapped a £12million price tag on the 24-year-old. However, Brady has predominantly played at left-back over the last two seasons and that is not thought to be one of Allardyce’s priorities in the transfer market. First-choice left-back Patrick van Aanholt penned a new four-year contract at the Stadium of Light last week, with a new right-back far more pressing for Sunderland. PSG right-back Serge Aurier was mentioned as a possibility to fill the latter vacancy yesterday, but reports in France have dismissed the link.
