Benitez still after Cattermole

Seems like he's determined to get his man.

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Rafa Benitez may make a third attempt to sign Sunderland midfield enforcer Lee Cattermole in the summer after failing in a transfer deadline day bid to take him to Napoli.

Cattermole is still with the Black Cats after a £5million deal with Stoke City collapsed just a couple of hours before the transfer window shut.

And it’s been reported that Napoli also had an inquiry rebuffed earlier in the day.

Benitez previously tried to buy the 25-year-old, who has been with the Wearside club for five years, when he was in charge at Liverpool.

Cattermole’s future at the Stadium of Light is now in doubt after manager Gus Poyet signed Liam Bridcutt from his former club Brighton and Hove Albion for £3million.

http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/02/lee-cattermole-may-leave-sunderland-for-napoli-in-the-summer-4287802/

 

It does seem like the clock is now ticking on his time at Sunderland

 

Nowt wrong at all,

 

Played a blinder keeping him. Gives time for Bridcutt to settle in and if he does we use the money from Cats sale to sign Ki permanent in the summer. Provided Colback signs a new deal of course

 

It's a no lose situation mate. When Catts is fit he will push Bridcutt for his place, if he gets in Bridcutt will push to get back, end of the day we end up with two committed DM's. Plus I'm sure Catts is professional enough to help and encourage the young lad as well. Win, Win for us.

 

Hahaha carts will only ever go to Naples on hpliday

 

Exactly, and this is how we should start thinking.
Not selling just because they are not in the first eleven, but building a squad.

 

I think that has been high on Gus's agenda mate, judging by the amount we brought in and then let go, we now have strong cover in all departments.

My opinion is that Gus may have been willing to do business with Catts, but whoever his replacement target was, was never going to happen so he pulled the plug on the Catts deal. Think we might see that go ahead in the summer.

 

Why didn't Napoli bid then? I reckon it's just paper talk.

 

Squad is the main word, he dropped Johnson and I don't know what he said to the lad but as soon as he got his chance again he took it. Now Giacc has been dropped I am willing to bet he will give his all the next time he gets some game time.

 

I had heard a rumour that we were after Rodwell, if that had come off Catts would have been off.

 

I'm glad Catts is still here as he will have a vital part to play in the final and for the season till May and we will be better for it. In the Summer I guess its all bets off again as Gus will want to build further his vision of our future and maybe Lee has a long time part to play or not but the summer is the correct time to sell influential players not January.

I rate Lee very highly and although Bridcutt had a blinder on debut, we need a strong squad system to allow us not to be potentially derailed by suspensions and injuries. **** Benitez, Stoke and Hull.