DICK ADVOCAAT has moved to keep Wes Brown at Sunderland by offering the defender a new deal. Brown, who turns 36 in October, had been expected to leave this summer at the end of his contract at the Stadium of Light but Advocaat’s return to the club has led to a change of heart. Now the centre-half is understood to be close to agreeing an extension, the length of which could coincide with the 12-month term which the Dutch head coach has penned. Brown has had his injury problems since signing from Manchester United four years ago in a £1m deal, but he has figured more prominently in each of the last two seasons. He made 28 appearances last season and Advocaat thinks the former England defender is a valuable and hugely respected member of the squad capable of playing another year in the Premier League. He will not be expected to play every game and the push has already started to bring in a new centre-back. There is a chance that Liverpool will be approached about the prospect of Sebastian Coates returning after the end of his season-long loan, and there will be a further addition. Brown’s experience is seen as integral to the squad Advocaat wants for the next year, with long-term friend John O’Shea alongside him. It is understood negotiations over a new deal have been fruitful, weeks after it had been thought he would be leaving this summer. Sunderland are also in discussions to keep French full-back Anthony Reveillere and are at an advanced stage of negotiations, while sporting director Lee Congerton has had detailed talks with Advocaat aimed at finding summer transfer targets. American owner Ellis Short has indicated a willingness to give the former PSV Eindhoven coach the cash to invest in the squad this summer, in the hope of avoiding a repeat of the customary relegation threatened seasons. South Korean defender Kim Young-Gwon, Hannover’s former Real Madrid forward Joselu and Werder Bremen’s Franco di Santo have been mentioned along with Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk and Chelsea youngster Patrick Bamford as targets. It would seem unlikely at this stage that Sunderland will make a renewed approach to try to sign Liverpool striker Fabio Borini, who constantly knocked back a move last summer when Gus Poyet made him a priority signing. Borini looks set to leave Anfield after struggling to make an impact even though he had outlined a determination to make a success of his Liverpool career after rejecting the £10m permanent switch to the North-East. Borini’s agent Marco de Marchi said: “Several teams have asked about Fabio on loan but the Liverpool board have always refused, especially in light of the £10m bid that was rejected last year from Sunderland.” He added: “Sunderland was a step back, the result of the first unlucky season with the Reds. But when he returned to form he expected to be able to have more possibilities with the Reds. “Fabio now only has a one-year contract. What matters for him is to find a team of the top level with a serious technical project and the opportunity to perhaps play in the European cups. I think taking Fabio today, at the age of 24, at the height of his career, with one year on his contract, is a real steal.”
What form? Where? The kid is deluded, best move you ever made not signing that chump. Nice news on Wes by the way, think he's still got a year left in him, hopefully for your sake it'll be a transitional season for him, edging him out and his replacement into the side. He can offer a lot as a mentor.
Good news on wes, still has a year left in him. Not sure about borini, at 5 million its a yes for me.
I'm sceptical as I think it suggests John O'Shea will still be a first choice center half. Not good enough.
Not necessarily. If we sign Coates, we will need a quick centre half to pair him, so that means another centre half joining. Advocatt doesnt like vergini, which I dont think anyone could blame him for, so he wont want him in the side. I think we will start with coates & a quick centre half. brown, oshea on the bench. Vergini in the stands. Well thats what I hope for anyway.
Not sure he`s got much left to contribute as a player tbh. Unless DA wants to keep him on as a mentor to bring the the young `uns through. That might be a possibility. Other than that I can`t think how he can earn his keep.
I dont see what people's problem is with this one? Brown (when playing) has consistantly been our best centre half during his time with us. Wether he plays or is on the bench, a player with his experience and ability is crucial to a club like us. Another year on low wages cant be a bad thing, hes miles better than oshea imo.
Good news this is one less position that we need to fill so transfer funds can be used elsewhere, Brown's still a decent centre half but we need to make sure he's managed carefully hopefully trying to phase him out as the season goes on. I'm not sure why people put Brown and O'Shea down tbh, they've proven to be better than the alternatives that we've had over the last few seasons.
FFP? The wage bill? Every squad place is precious, we can not afford bit part players clogging up our wage bill. We don't even know if we can get rid of Roberge yet. That could be two CBs on our books who aren't going to get much game time, both being paid. Unless you know something about his wages we don't? Is it pay as you play or something? That's the only wage acceptable to me.
Brown wont be clogging up our wage bill. How can you say that about the guy whos consistantly been our best defender in recent years? Brown was solid enough this year and will be good enough to start (not every game) or be sub for us next season. The club and Brown himself know his injury record so wages will be very reasonable, especially for a 35-36 year old. If you want to clear our wage bill, o shea, roberge and vergini are all worse than brown. Wes brown as a squad player on low wages is more than good enough for me.
If he's there as cover then why not keep him for another year..........................Maldini played in his 40's
I agree with this. Reading above, he made 28 appearances last season - not bad at all for a crock. Needs to be used sparingly though
Because his knee is knackered and it says this in the article You seem to be confusing me with somebody who doesn't rate him as a player. I do rate him, I can just see the bigger picture. O'shea has just signed a new contract, how we going to sell him? We don't think he's good enough for us so who's going to take his contract on? We couldn't sell Roberge last season and he didn't impress on loan. Is he going to be in demand or is there a chance we could be stuck with him? I've seen nothing which confirms Vergini even plays for us. But if he does we can't sell him so soon. Use your brain instead deciding my sentiments for me. I'll ask you as well. What's his wages then? How have you learned this privileged information then? Then there's the squad situation, the most important factor. You are aware of the squad rules aren't you? 25 man squad of seniors. Ours stands at 24, 25 if vergini is our player and 27 if we sign coates and rev. Already over the allowed number and that's before we strengthen properly. Meaning we'll have senior players we can't register to play who'll clogging up the wage bill. We'd need to shift many on before we can strengthen and lets face it, there won't be many queues for our players, they only assets we could sell easy we want to keep. Like I said, bigger picture.
