Todays echo says otherwise. Doing my head in now - Jeremain Lens is due for a medical at the Academy of Light today, but Sunderland’s proposed move for Nicolas Lombaerts has collapsed.Lens is on the verge of completing his £8million move from Dynamo Kiev after the Dutch international winger agreed personal terms to become Sunderland’s big money move of the summer transfer window so far. However, Sunderland’s pursuit of centre-half Lombaerts has fallen through after the Belgian international has indeed failed a medical with the Black Cats - speculation which first emerged in Italy yesterday. The Echo understands Sunderland had agreed a fee with Zenit St Petersburg for Lombaerts and a deal was also reached over personal terms for the 30-year-old, contrary to reports last night that the two parties couldn’t agree wages. But the move has collapsed due to an issue with Lombaerts’ medical on Wearside yesterday and Sunderland are now looking at other targets, who are understood to have already been identified. They are not thought to include Celtic centre-half Virgil van Dijk, despite Sunderland’s long-standing interest in the Dutchman. The news on Lombaerts will be softened though by the imminent arrival of Lens, who is likely to join the rest of the Sunderland squad in North America if his move goes according to plan - probably in Canada at the weekend prior to next Wednesday’s clash with MLS outfit Toronto. One of Advocaat and Lee Congerton’s principle aims this summer was to boost Sunderland’s options on the left flank after the Black Cats were forced to use a variety of options there last season. And Lens has always been one of the club’s main targets after the 27-year-old enjoyed a successful period working under Advocaat at PSV Eindhoven. He has been keen to leave Kiev, partly due to the current unrest in the Ukraine and has been tempted by the prospect of working under Advocaat in the Premier League. “I have never made a secret of the fact that I like the Premier League,” he said earlier this week. “Despite Dynamo playing in the Champions League, now it seems like a great opportunity to make the switch. “We (him and Advocaat) have previously worked well together at AZ and PSV. We know each other – that’s ideal.”
That's a real pity. We urgently need an experienced rock of a CB - I would really throw the cheque book at this position. At least we still have plenty of time to find one. O'Shea/Brown/Coates is an insta-relegation combination. With Vergini also out the door, a case could also be made for a second, cheaper CB to have as a squad player.
I know he has no control over a medical but it's seems that LC has major problems getting his first choice targets over the line starting to get a bit twitchy now as atm we are relegation fodder
Theres still 3 weeks to go before the season starts and a few weeks later before the window closes. Control your ring-piece mate, still plenty of time to go.
Not sure at all what is going on, but I am sure Dick is ITK.....this from the BBC football gossip website today: Sunderland have failed in an attempt to sign Zenit St Petersburg defender Nicolas Lombaerts, 30. The clubs had agreed a £5m fee but the Black Cats could not agree personal terms with the player. (Times, subscription required)
Lens to sign, matthews and coates already done so. Dick said end of last week we wants signings completed in within the next 2 weeks. No need to panic yet
The papers haven't got a clue lads, one day its wages, the next its a failed medical blah ****ing blah.
Seems it was a break down in talks and not a failed medical http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-07-15/lombaerts-denies-failing-sunderland-medical/
No big deal for me, no bizarre theory in regards to our DoF not being able to get this or that, no conspiracy on some curse on Sunderland in the transfer market, just a deal that hasn't come off so we move on. Simple as that.
Chris Young reckons it was the medical. Most likely it was that. Never mind no big deal, we move on, hopefully not for Johnny Evans
This was absolutely personal terms. Nicolas Lombaerts has denied failing a medical at Sunderland. The Belgium international was close to completing a £5m move to the Stadium of Light but has decided to stay in Russia with Zenit St Petersburg. “The medical was not an issue.” Lombaerts told Sky Sports News HQreporter Gary Cotterill. “I don’t want to talk about the medical. People are making up stories. I decided to stay in Russia. Other teams in England were interested but I wanted to stay here. It’s my home here, and I feel happy. I have four games to become a Zenit legend. I will spend the remaining three years here, and maybe end my career here.” Aye, ok mate....ha. Translation 'Sunderlands bag of money was smaller than Zenits'. Didn't fly over for the craic, did he..
So he's admitting that he's had a medical? So to have getting to a position to have had the medical then to then declare undying love for his current team and country.....whose he trying to kid???? Or maybe he watched our friendly last night? I thought that the medical was the last stage normally, that everything else is agreed, wages etc? So has he walked away after the agreements were made? Sounds fishy!
Was clearly personal terms, he'll be on stupid money at Zenit. The club is right to not try and go toe to toe with a club backed by Gazprom.
But he seems to admit that there has been a medical. I thought that the medical is performed after personal terms are completed? I hope we bill him for the medical anyway! ha!
