turner, the reason.

MARTIN O’NEILL admits Michael Turner’s contract situation prompted Sunderland to offload the central defender.

Sunderland manager O’Neill is still awaiting the outcome of discussions between Turner and Norwich City after the Black Cats agreed a fee with the Canaries for the sale of the central defender.

Turner ) has less than a year remaining on his Sunderland contract and, despite the former Hull man starting the final 20 games of last season, O’Neill has confirmed that the 28-year-old was not going to be offered a new deal to stay on Wearside.

And with Sunderland boasting another five central defenders, plus youngsters Louis Laing and John Egan, O’Neill believes the deal is a good one for both the Black Cats and Turner.

O’Neill told the Echo: “We have a number of centre-halves.

“Since Michael came into the side under me, he’s stayed in the team. But, at the moment, I was unable to offer him an extension to his contract.

“Norwich came in with the promise of some extra years and it’s something he wanted to look at.

“But if things don’t develop, then he’s welcome back because he did as well as anyone in the last couple of months of the season.”

The summer signing of Carlos Cuellar boosted Sunderland’s defensive options after O’Neill handed the out-of-contract Spaniard a two-year deal to become his first permanent acquisition as Black Cats boss.

But O’Neill says Cuellar was not necessarily signed as a replacement for Turner after the former Aston Villa boss saw how Sunderland’s central defensive options were decimated by injuries last season.

“Carlos was out-of-contract and the business was too good to turn down, having known the player,” said O’Neill.

“We probably needed to bring in Carlos because if you consider I took (Sotirios) Kyrgiakos last January, it tells you the problems we had at centre-half.

“Titus (Bramble) played the Boxing Day game and we didn’t see him again until the last day of the season, Wes Brown got injured and at times Matt Kilgallon and John (O’Shea) went out as well.

“I’m delighted that Michael played the games, otherwise I don’t know where we would have been.”

Cuellar remains the only new arrival at the Stadium of Light this summer, with Sunderland continuing negotiations over O’Neill’s primary targets.

But Blackburn’s Steven N’Zonzi, who has been linked with Sunderland this summer, is one player who will not be signing, with the Frenchman on the verge of joining Spanish outfit Seville on loan – although the Black Cats are not thought to have made an offer for the 23-year-old.

O’Neill added: “We’re just waiting because there’s prices to be negotiated. It just seems to be the modern thing that they take longer now.

“There hasn’t been a phenomenal amount of movement in the transfer market, but that doesn’t matter.

“I’m not too concerned about what other clubs are doing.

“We have our eye on one or two players where we’re hoping to do something.

“We all know what’s needed at the football club and I will do my very best to ensure that happens.”

 

All makes sense to me

 

Wonder why o'neil said that he was 'unable' to offer turner an extension. Unless turner wanted too much

 

because he thinks others are better

 

Fair one

 

Umm personally I would p Tina ahead of Titus and Killa, perhaps others do too and that is why he was the one with offers.

 

so would I but its MON who counts not us, we still have Elmo BTW, I like to bring a little sunshine into your life

 

Syd how could you mention the E person, I thought he was off to the Hammers or to Hull?

 

I think he will be

 

Syd, I think it's a situation of MT taking a pay cut for a new contract, same for KR. If offers come in that make finacial sense then OK otherwise they run their contracts down/;. With respect to MT especially, he isn't in a strong position and clubs can't force our hand.

 

Iam a very big MON supporter on here, but this is the first major clanger hes dropped in my opinion.Turner was by no means the worst CB we had at the club, indeed for me, he was first choice far more solid than some and that includes O Shea. I also happen to know he wasnt the biggest earner either, indeed modest wages compared to some. I feel we will come to regret this

 

Defender Michael Turner joins on a two-year-deal

NORWICH City have completed the signing of 28-year-old defender Michael Turner from Sunderland on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The former Hull City man becomes Manager Chris Hughton's fourth summer signing, joining Jacob Butterfield, Steven Whittaker, and Robert Snodgrass in the City ranks.

Turner is a central defender with bags of Premier League experience, having represented both Hull City and the Black Cats with distinction at the highest level.

City Manager Hughton told Canaries.co.uk: “I’m delighted to be able to bring Michael into the squad as he is a player with a wealth of Premier League experience.

“At 28 years old he is joining us at a good age, and I’m happy to have been able to welcome him to Norwich City.

“Like with Snodgrass, Butterfield, and Whittaker, it’s nice to bring players in with a good amount of time left in pre-season so they are able to gel with the squad ahead of the first game of the season.”

A thrilled Turner added: “I’m delighted. The deal is all signed now and I’m happy to be here.

“The manager needs to want you first and foremost to get the ball rolling, and that was the key with Chris Hughton.

“I’ve heard a lot of people say good things about what he does and has done in the game, so I’m just pleased to be a part of his team.

“I was really impressed with Norwich last season. I was on the bench for the game at Carrow Road, and I got to see them play, so I was impressed with the players, the stadium, and the whole set up of the Club.

“I’ve picked up a lot of experience throughout my career, and hopefully I can add a bit to the squad here.

“I feel good. Last year I played just shy of 30 games, and now that I’ve come back to pre-season I feel stronger than ever.”

After beginning his career with Charlton Athletic, the Lewisham-born centre-half soon made a name for himself, and was awarded the Addicks’ Young Player of the Year in 2003-04.

A seven-game loan spell from Charlton to Leyton Orient in 2003 was followed by an initial one-month loan to Brentford, which led to Turner being signed permanently at Griffin Park for a nominal fee in November 2004.

His time at Brentford proved to be a huge success and after 110 appearances at Griffin Park, in which he scored three goals, the 6ft 4ins defender was signed to Phil Parkinson's Hull City in the summer of 2006.

Turner's performances were key for the Tigers in their 2007-08 campaign, in which they won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, and the rising star was named Player of the Season.

After his ever-present campaign for Hull City in their successful first stint in the Premier League in 2008-09, the defender secured a £4M move to north-east side Sunderland, amid calls from some quarters for an England call-up.

 

good luck Tina

 

Good luck to the lad, personally I think Killa is a better defender. JOS and Brown would be our first choice but with uncertainty over Browns fitness probably means we will need to buy a CB.

 

Speaking as a visitor, we´re delighted to have got him, at what, by all accounts seems a good price, if the £1.5 mill some people are quoting, is correct. Bit surprised we only gave him a two year contract, but we generally do include a years further option on the deals we complete.

Can´t quite understand you keeping, at least for now, Bramble and Kilgallon, but no doubt MON has something in mind, looking forward to seeing how Mr. Turner deals with the Sunderland attack when we meet.

 

wev had a lot worse by a long way

 

Two year contract because of high wages for Norwich I bet.

 

That will do for me..I trust the fact that this guy knows what he is doing..

 

It shouldn't find it too difficult cos we ain't got one!