11.49: According to reports, Sunderland are eyeing a move for Rennes defender Abdou Kader Mangane. The Senegalese international is available for around £5million, but the Black Cats could face competition from West Ham. and Sunderland have been linked with a move for Senegalese striker Ibrahima Balde from Spanish side Osasuna, Sky Sports understands. Balde has been playing in Spain since 2008 when he joined Atletico Madrid. But he did not join Atletico from Africa, he came from Argentina - where he moved when he was 16. In South America he was quickly spotted and spent time with Argentinos Juniors and Velez Sarsfield, before linking up with Atletico. After making the breakthrough at the Vicente Calderon, he spent time on loan with Numancia before joining Osasuna last summer. He played 22 times for the club, starting 13 games and he impressed with seven goals in La Liga. The Senegal striker also came to the fore when he scored for his country in their crucial Olympic qualifier against Oman at Coventry City. Martin O'Neill is understood to have competition from Aston Villa, Norwich and Reading in targeting a move for the 6ft 2in target man and he could be set for a summer switch to England. "Ibrahima is a very impressive player and a number of clubs have expressed an interest," his British representative Chris Nathaniel told Sky Sports. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- anyone know anything about these two?
Don't know anything about Balde, but I do know that Mangane is an excellent, strong CB, who's pretty decent on the ball (compared to Turner and JOS). He'd be a good addition.
Similar in stature to Samba Poolie, but he's not as dominant, I wouldn't say he was especially quick, but again, he's quicker than JOS & Tina. He's a very good defender, think he's about 6'5, he's a unit.
ah I c, would be quite happy if it comes off as I think we will see a new CB come in to the club as Turner, Killa and Bramble are all entering the last year and cannot see them all still being here come september
He'd be a definite improvement, we need 5 as JOS & Brown are injury prone, release Titus, keep Killa & Tina as back up, although a bid of £3million + and i'd say sayonara to Tina! I love his heart, and he's a great tackler, also strong in the air, but he is so limited with the ball, and, critically, slow, that he simply isn't good enough for us to kick on.
Ibrahima Balde i want.... havent seen much of the outher lad but he us the next cisse to the league quality.... toon are also interested i read and if newcastle get him to replace ba they will be killing the league next season
Seems a bit OTT for a lad who has scored 23 goals in 4 seasons, 2 of which were outside the top flight!
I've not seen much of him mate, Osasuna just ain't a draw! I'll trust your judgement your knowledge is usually good
Would love to have both of these guys but have just read in the i newspaper that Balde's agent was charged with murder yesterday so things may be on hold;not trying to dampen spirits-I'm only the messenger
