http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/288250/? MARTIN OâNEILL appears to have strengthened his position at Sunderland after claims that he was on the way out. The football grapevine was buzzing recently that OâNeill was unhappy with the transfer funds â or lack of them â that he had available for next monthâs transfer window. There were also claims on Twitter that he had quit after the recent home defeat by West Brom. But that suggestion was dismissed by Sunderland â and by OâNeill himself. He has also been supported by *Sunderland owner Ellis Short, who is usually reluctant to comment publicly. And now OâNeill is preparing to spend in January with a centre-half and a powerful midfielder his main targets. The Black Cats boss has been linked with a previous target â Spurs central defender Michael Dawson. He could also rekindle his interest in West Hamâs Mohamed Diame, 25, who was out of contract at Wigan in the summer before heading for Upton Park. OâNeill also wanted Spursâ former England schemer Jermaine Jenas, 29, in the last transfer window. Man Cityâs Swedish striker John Guidetti is also a loan target. Former Celtic and Aston Villa boss OâNeill made a big impact after replacing Steve Bruce at Sunderland, but this campaign has been a real struggle. But Ulsterman OâNeill is a life-long Sunderland fan who is determined to succeed â and Short seems set to give him time to do just that.
Diame - No chance, just signed for West Ham. Dawson - injury prone, we already have enough of them at CB. Jenas - kill me now! Ffs we need to be looking at better than this, try abroad MON! Wouldn't be surprised if we paid 10m for the bottom 2.
Diame has a £6million buy-out clause in his contract for the first 2 years, and would be a magnificent signing, but rejected us to go to London. Dawson is head and shoulders above any CB at the club, but made of glass. Jenas is just a god awful player now.
Although the word is Diame's release is as low as 3.5m. Who knows but the lad is a beast. I imagine his wages are beastly too though having been a free!
Yeah just read that mate, so he's on 30k a week, with a £3.7million release clause. Someone will look at that, but as I said, we were in in summer and he chose West Ham.
His agent will want to double those and more. Just like Ba's. Probably the same guys. I reckon he'll stay there bar a big club coming in.
Yeah, there was talk of Arsenal being interested, and let's be honest they are desperate for that sort of player. No way is he a 60k a week player though, no way on earth.
All well and good getting a war chest of cash but, it has to be spent wisely on players who will improve us and not just squad players.
How big war chest ?, £10 m, £20 m, 30 m, i think £20 m would get us an attacking midfielder Gomez of Wigan, or Pilkington of Norwich, or Brunt of WBA and a striker plus a defender.
