Everton have made a formal approach to Sunderland regarding Kieran Richardson EVERTON have made a formal approach to Sunderland in an attempt to sign Kieran Richardson this summer. Toffees officials have inquired about the possibility of landing Richardson, who is about to enter the final 12 months of his current deal at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill must now decide whether to hold on to the 27-year-old, and potentially run the risk of him leaving for nothing in a year's time, or cash in and reinvest the money in his squad. He will be reluctant to lose Richardson's versatility, and will have to sign a replacement left-back if he departs as the Black Cats are short of defensive cover in that position. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sp....Everton_make_formal_approach_for_Richardson/ However, he may well conclude that after five years on Wearside, it will be to the benefit of both parties to have a change. Everton are unlikely to be the only club interested if Sunderland indicate a willingness to move Richardson on. West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce is a long-standing admirer of the former England international, and will be keen to make significant reinforcements following his side's success in last weekend's Championship play-off final. Arsenal were linked with a possible loan move in the last transfer window, while newly-promoted Reading have also been credited with an interest in Richardson's services. The former Manchester United trainee made 26 Premier League starts last season, and Craig Gordon's departure means he is now the longest-serving player on the club's books. Whether Richardson leaves or not, O'Neill is determined to oversee a major overhaul of Sunderland's first-team squad. He sanctioned the departure of nine players at the weekend, most of which were youngsters or reserve-team performers, and is keen to engineer a permanent deal that will see George McCartney remain at West Ham. McCartney spent last season on loan at Upton Park, and after helping the Hammers win promotion to the Premier League, the Northern Irishman is desperate to secure a permanent contract in east London. "Of course I would like to be here (West Ham) next year," said McCartney. "I have regrets about leaving a few years ago and I have got the opportunity to come back and things have gone really well. "So hopefully in a few weeks' time when everything has settled down, we can sort something out. "I was having a good season until the Birmingham game (in April) where I got concussion and when I came back, the manager kept the same team. "So I can't get too disappointed because I have played my part this season. I have played 40 or 41 games this year and I am delighted." Meanwhile, Sunderland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood is set to deputise for Shay Given when the Republic of Ireland face Bosnia in their opening Euro 2012 warm-up game this weekend. Given has injured his knee, and is due to have a scan to assess the full extent of the damage later this week. At this stage, there is no suggestion the former Sunderland and Newcastle goalkeeper will miss Ireland's opening game of the European Championships against Croatia, but Westwood will attempt to prove he is capable of plugging a gap if it arises if he lines up at the Aviva Stadium this weekend. * Bury have signed Trevor Carson on a two-year deal after the goalkeeper was released from Sunderland earlier this week. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Sunderland wonât prevent Everton move for Richardson http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...prevent-everton-move-for-richardson-1-4574339 By Graeme Anderson Published on Wednesday 23 May 2012 09:15 SUNDERLAND will not stand in the way of Kieran Richardsonâs desire to leave the Stadium of Light this summer. The 27-year-old, about to enter the last year of of his contract, indicated to the club earlier this year that he wanted to move on. And the Black Cats are willing to grant his wish, as they look to recoup some of the £5.5million Roy Keane paid Manchester United for his services in 2007. Everton are the latest club to signal an interest in the utility player. David Moyes can offer him a place at one of the most established clubs in the Premier League, one that finished last season with a surge into seventh place and one that looks as though it could be going places again, despite tight financial controls. But there are no shortage of suitors for Richardsonâs signature, with Arsenal, Fulham and the club where his career first began, newly-promoted West Ham, also linked. The London clubs look to be in pole position, with Richardson believed to favour a move back to the city of his birth. But he is unlikely to rush to leave in the next few weeks, preferring instead to enjoy his holiday and return to see what the offers are. Sunderland are relaxed about the playerâs impending departure, knowing that if he leaves over the next few months they will get a fee of between £2-3m for a player who could leave for nothing the following summer. That money would go towards swelling Martin OâNeillâs war-chest as the Sunderland looks to bring in the players who will prevent next season beginning with the sort of poor results that ended the one just gone. OâNeill is a big admirer of the job Moyes has done at Goodison Park over the last decade and also of the quality of squad he has assembled. And if Richardson does decide he wants to join Everton this summer, the Black Catsâ boss may well look at a possible player exchange as well as a straightforward cash transfer. * Arsenal will release seven fringe players at the end of their contracts on June 30, including goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and defender Gavin Hoyte. Newly-promoted West Ham have been linked with a move for Almunia, who spent a brief loan spell at Upton Park last season. * Midfielder Owen Hargreaves has been released by Manchester City after his short-term deal expired.
Personally I would sell, 1 good game in 10 is not enough, many games this season his passing has been rubbish. In fact if you take away his pace he dosn't bring much to the table. I would go further and say if it wasn't for his freekick against our neighbours we wouldn't question the notion of selling him.
He has been a good servant for the club, played out of position, more times than enough. But, maybe time for him to move on for his own reasons, and he still owns a bleedin big gaff in the Northwest. And IT IS a money game, money, MoN hopefully will be getting to strengthen the team.
2-3mil, ****in loose change in the Prem. We should be fighting tooth and nail to keep the lad. WE ARE MEANT TO BE MOVING FORWARDS AS A TEAM FFS!!!
been ok for us yes maybe his time is up i probably think so and time for us to move onward and upwards
well redan if you had been with us on this site since its inception you would know that i have been shouting his praises as a valued member of our squad. time and the team has moved on and if MON feels his time is up so be it
If MON is doing wholesale changes in the squad(AGAIN for SAFC!!!) and we are ditching KR for a couple of mil then I hope business is done early and money is available. MON is a good manager, he has a game plan, players like him because he gives them simple zonal roles to execute on the pitch, all part of the master plan. I hope 'Pop' and the boys/girls come good because they will have a bigger say on the season than our manager. I like MON but don't buy into this 'walks on water' ****. (look at his spend per point in the Prem <erm>)
I saw a similar article about Everton and KR in the Chronicle tonight: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/sunderland-afc/safc-news/2012/05/23/everton-weigh-up-move-for-kieran-richardson-72703-31026 I could not believe this bit was actually published: "Black Cats boss Martin OâNeill is expected to shake up his squad during the close-season and Richardson could be one of those players sacrificed to allow him to bring in his own signings. Everton winger Steven Pienaar is on OâNeillâs radar and he may try to offer Richardson as the makeweight in a player-plus-cash deal in an attempt to convince Toffees boss David Moyes to part with the South African." Terrible, lazy journalism by James Hunter, who should know that Pienaar is a SPURS player, and why would he agree to come here, as he has already stated he wants to return to Everton permanently.
I like Richardson but at 27 he is at the peak of his career with only 1 year left on his contract. Its sell him now and get some money in or lose him for free at the end of the season. In my view he should be worth about 5m. We need a decent replacement though as Bridge did not really cut it.
