SUNDERLAND have been linked with a fresh move for out-of-contract Manchester City defender Micah Richards.The Black Cats were offered Richards’ services on a season-long loan last summer, but then head coach Gus Poyet opted against the move. Poyet didn’t think that Richards would fit into his playing philosophy, with Sunderland instead landing Liverpool’s Sebastian Coates on a loan deal. Richards ultimately joined Serie A’s Fiorentina on loan and has made 18 appearances for the Italian side in all competitions this season. But the 26-year-old’s Man City contract expires this summer and he will leave the Etihad on a free transfer. Sunderland will be in the market for defensive reinforcements at the end of the campaign, regardless of which division they are in, with Wes Brown and Anthony Reveillere out of contract, and Coates and Santiago Vergini only at the Stadium of Light on loan, albeit the latter is expected to pen a permanent deal.
First of all, if Vergini pens a permanent deal I will worry about the decision making at SAFC. We have seen him for 2 seasons now. He is terrible. Secondly, I am amazed that we backed away from signing Richards in August - doesn't make sense Finally I doubt very much that Richards would want to drop in to the Championship, and doubt that we could afford him
We have to sign Vergini on the terms offered at the time of the loan if we stay in the PL and he wants to sign - he has played in excess of the required number of games to trigger the clause in the loan deal (will try to fish out the article but it's definitely true - if he signs it's not SAFC's doing NOW - it'#s a decision made when he was loaned to us) I rate him - I do honestly think he is a decent footballer - has some idiotic mad moments but, IMO, has had more decent games than poor ones - played well at the weekend other than that stupid backheel in the 93rd minute!! and has also played very well at full back too. If we are in the PL then Richards should be a target as he was last season - why the hell Poyet turned him down is beyond me - particularly when we ended up with Coates instead!
Richards can`t be any worse than Coates - he is ****ing awful - how he was ever signed by L`pool I have no idea (can`t see what they paid for him but it was too much); how we ever ended up with him on loan I`ll never understand...
It's because Congerton was foolish enough to give Gus too much say on transfers. Gus opted for his fellow countryman with minimum premier league experience and we all know how that has gone. Congerton needs to toughen up. No suprises we're back in for Richards though.
I imagine Richards wages will be above and beyond our pay structure. He's a decent player and much better than what we have but can't see it happening.
Disagree, he's had his payday contract and will never get anywhere near that amount from anyone ever again. He'll be back to being on a 30kpw contract imo.
Rightly so as well, he's nowhere near the player he was developing into at the beginning of his career. He stalled and never recovered. Still a solid defender but much like Phil Jones he just seemed to flush all the potential down the can. A combination of money and injuries has stopped both in their tracks I'd imagine. Still EPL quality players, they're not terrible, but nowhere near what we all expected.
I'd love him here like. he'll be affordable to most so they'll be a lot of interest but can't see anyone offering high wages. QPR are down.
Haha, yeah, they'd chuck £120k a week at him. I watched him leave his keys in his Ferrari 458, engine running and door wide open in pissing down rain, whilst he ran into the petrol station. If I remember correctly he come out with a Twix. He's a dumb ****.
