Sunderland approach QPR over defender Steven Caulker Last Updated: 31/12/15 6:05pm please log in to view this image Sunderland have approached QPR over defender Steven Caulker who is on loan at Southampton Sunderland have approached QPR over the permanent signing of defender Steven Caulker, according to Sky sources. The centre-half is currently on a season-long loan with Southampton but it is understood that if both clubs and the player agree, then he will be allowed to talk to Sam Allardyce's side. Earlier, Saints boss Ronald Koeman said he wanted to keep the player until the end of the season. please log in to view this image Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce Koeman said: "My plan is that he stays until the end of the season, and then we need to make a decision." The 24-year-old started his career at Tottenham but, after a number of loan spells, joined Cardiff for £8m before moving to QPR. He joined Southampton on loan in the summer but has found his opportunities at St Mary's limited with Virgil van Dijk and captain Jose Fonte preferred at the back.
If only we had signed Virgil when he was available, using Fletch as bait perhaps, then chased down Charley Austin or similar, we could by now be looking forward to the big payouts next season, wishful thinking of course but not beyond our means then surely. It is certainly going to cost more now if we are to rectify our inertia when we should have been active and weren't, as was pointed out by a few on this board at the time.
How do you know we weren't active? This isn't football manager, Van Dijk was always going to choose Saints over us, and QPR were adamant not to sell Austin. He could also be on ridiculous wages we were unable to match... On topic, would be well happy with Caulker. If we got him and Kone (know nothing about this lad but presumably he's not come to sit on the bench and I trust Sam's judgement), our defence suddenly looks a lot better. Just need 2 new full backs and a creative midfielder then...
He's used to relegation so it'd be another step for him. Cardiff, QPR, Sunderland, then he'll move to Swansea and get relegated... I always thought he was ok but nowt flash. That said, he's an improvement on our current fit defenders
