y Graeme Anderson Published on Thursday 12 July 2012 09:22 SUNDERLAND target Junior Hoilett looks set to join free-spending Queens Park Rangers over the next few days â forcing a rethink of the Black Catsâ transfer strategy. The Blackburn Rovers winger was high on Sunderland boss Martin OâNeillâs summer wish list, with the 22-year-oldâs pace and invention capable of transforming the Black Catsâ attacking options. But the out-of-contract Canadian (pictured), the shining star of Roversâ relegation season, is hot property and there have been a host of other suitors for his signature. As well as interest from Sunderland, Newcastle United and Everton, German side Borussia Monchengladbach made a determined move to take him to the Bundesliga and were confident they had got their man before being put off by wage demands of around £50,000 a week. Thatâs a figure which would have been a sticking point for both the North East clubs. Such a weekly wage would be well in excess of anything anyone at Sunderland is on, but well within the range of Queens Park Rangers, who are backing manager Mark Hughesâ rebuilding plans with vast amounts of cash. The Londoners signalled their ambitions this week with the signing of Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung, and it seems they will now match the demands of Hoilettâs representatives. Rangers seem prepared to consider the compensation figure of £4m that Rovers are insisting on. Sunderland could now increase their interest in Spartak Moscow winger Aiden McGeady. The 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international â who worked previously under OâNeill at Celtic â has made it clear he does not plan to sign a new contract with the Russian club. And while he still has two years remaining on his current contract, Spartak may well be ready to cut a deal. At one stage it was thought that Sunderland could be looking to recruit both Hoilett and McGeady but it is more likely a case one or the other. The Black Cats, who released nine players at the end of last season and have also allowed George McCartney and Asamoah Gyan to leave too, have made one new signing so far â out-of-contract Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar. New faces will follow, but not immediately. The club is in the market for a specialist left-back although the top priority remains improving Sunderlandâs attacking options.
22 years old, and demanding in excess of 50k a week......ffs.. even at such a young age it seems all about money, and not ambition.
He had a good season, but wages are an issue. Even if the compensation to Rovers is low(ish) paying him top dollar will bugger up our structure and he ain't worth the problems that would cause. Prefer him to McGeady though...
