By Chris Young Published on Monday 2 July 2012 09:30 CARLOS Cuellar was today confirmed as Sunderlandâs first summer signing after the defender agreed a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light. Free agent Cuellar put the final touches to his move to Sunderland over the weekend and was this morning unveiled as Martin OâNeillâs first permanent capture as Black Cats boss. Cuellar, who turns 31 next month, has penned a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light after his Aston Villa contract reached its conclusion on Saturday. There had been interest from the Spaniardâs homeland in taking the centre-half back to La Liga, with Malaga and Seville both keen on the former Rangers man. But the latter were unable to match Sunderlandâs offer and Cuellar was always keen on remaining in the Premier League. The prospect of being reunited with Martin OâNeill only strengthened Sunderlandâs hand after the Black Cats boss spent almost £8million to take Cuellar from Ibrox to Villa Park in 2008. Cuellar was at the Academy of Light on Friday for talks and a medical, and his Bosman capture represents a major boost for OâNeill, who had been tracking him for several months. The former Numancia and Osasuna man made 94 Premier League appearances for Villa, before the two parties agreed to go their separate ways at the end of last season. The arrival of Cuellar comes at an opportune moment after the Wearsiders lessened the load on the payroll yesterday following McCartneyâs permanent switch to West Ham. McCartney spent last season on loan with the Hammers and was always likely to remain at Upton Park after successfully helping Sam Allardyceâs men seal a return to the Premier League. The 31-year-old, who had a year remaining on his Sunderland contract, has signed a two-year deal and becomes the latest of the Black Catsâ unwanted players to leave the Stadium of Light. Midfielder Cristian Riveros, along with nine out-of-contract players, left the club in May and there promises to be more departures, with Marcos Angeleri and Asamoah Gyan leading the queue of players heading for the exit door. McCartney said: âI am delighted to be coming back to West Ham and this time on a permanent basis. It was great to be part of the side that won promotion for the club last season. âIt was a fantastic way to end the campaign last year and I am really looking forward to being back in the Premier League with West Ham.â McCartney made 157 appearances for the Black Cats after coming through the youth system, before first moving to Upton Park in 2006. Roy Keane brought the left-back back to the Stadium of Light for £4.5million in the summer of 2008, but he went on to start just 36 times in the top flight. McCartney spent time on loan at Leeds United in 2010-11, before joining the Hammers on a temporary basis last year. He may not be the last player to make the move from Wearside to East London either, with West Ham also keeping tabs on Sunderland duo Kieran Richardson and Ahmed Elmohamady. The Echo understands that Allardyce is yet to follow up his interest in Elmohamady, though, despite the possibility of a season-long loan switch for the Egyptian. Ideally, Elmohamady would like to remain at the Stadium of Light and fight for his place. But after playing just 91 minutes of Premier League football under OâNeill, the 24-year-old accepts he may need to leave Sunderland for a first-team spot.
No problem with this signing, as killgallon was shown up by Davies not to be strong enough for a CB, even tho' Killa has good skills
Good signing and surely spells the end of one if not two from Killa, Titus n Turner. Who next? Hopefully Olsson n Fletcher
if we signed Olsson, Fletcher, Rodellega/Saha and possibly Johnson/Mcgeady I would be one happy SAFC fan! As for Killa, Turner and Bramble... Out of the three I would say Killa is safest as he can play left back also, Brambles off-field antics might be his downfall, Tina's on field performances may be his...
This: it fulfills the LB, RW & Two Strikers we need (though not 100% on Saha or Rodallega) BUT we ideally need one more in to take on the 'creative midfielder' role we lack. Brambles time must be up, I can see the other two staying although Killa may be more difficult to keep given the likely lack of first team outings he'll get.
If Mr Cuellars signing is indictative of whats to come, then I cant say I am impressed...half decent in his day but nowt special and very much found wanting for pace on the rare occassions he got a game for Villa....na this signing does nowt for me !!
A good player but my concern is we are slow in the centre half positions and this signing does not improve that. Still it is the first signing and I can see the lad boosting us and adding strength. Free transfer so happy enough.
