Sunderland Forced To Play Waiting Game For Striking Options Posted on May 10, 2012 in Main Features, Sunderland, Transfer gossip | 0 comments Pogrebnyak: a Russian hit man it's safe to eat sushi around. After ninety minutes of animation on the Stadium of Light touchline this Sunday as his side take on Manchester United Martin OâNeill will be presumably heading home to do likewise in his living room as he lives every second of the Levante v Bilbao clash desperately hoping striker Arouna Kone doesnât score. This is due to an unusual clause set in the Ivory Coast internationalâs loan deal with Los Granotes that states that should Kones score 18 goals or more during his spell there his agreement with his parent club Sevilla will be automatically renewed. After 17 strikes and proving himself to be a surprise revelation at the Ciutat de Valencia that is something neither Levante or a host of other interested parties â led by the Wearsiders â want. The debate in Spain is whether coach Juan Ignacio Martinez will start with his in-form hit man and risk triggering the clause that would scupper a move for one of the most desirable free transfers available this summer. With Kone happy and firing at the club it is they who are hot favourites to land his signature should he indeed become a free agent. However, with Levante still in contention for European places on La Ligaâs final day Martinez is unlikely to drop the 28 year old poacher despite a slight knee strain this week giving ammunition to those who think otherwise. OâNeill meanwhile will be watching developments closely with the prolific striker emerging as a key target for the Mackems who are resolved to bringing in additional firepower this window. It is felt that Kone â who cost Sevilla £12m in 2007 â is open to the idea of trying his luck in the Premier League despite his public proclamations at being happy in Spain. Another free-scoring agent that OâNeill would love to lure to the north-east is Pavel Pogrebnyak but again the Irishman is being forced to watch developments from afar and hope that things go awry with other interested clubs. In this instance it is Fulham who are firmly in the driving seat to secure a permanent deal for a striker who has bagged six in his last ten games on loan at Craven Cottage since his switch from Stuttgart in January. The 28 year old is set to feature for Russia at the Euros, a tournament he cruelly missed through injury on the last occasion, and should he continue his hot streak there he is sure to be a much sought after figure. Acutely aware of this Martin Jol is keen to finalise a deal in the coming week with talk of it even coming to fruition before Fulhamâs game at Spurs this Sunday. Pogrebnyak has stated his intent to a Russian news agency on staying in England â ideally at the Cottage â but should there be complications, particularly over wages, Sunderland are waiting in the wings to swoop. It may be a frustrating time for OâNeill but while there is even the slightest possibility of nabbing one of two excellent front men for little-to-no outlay he and Sunderland are resigned to playing the waiting game. DIDNT SEE THIS ONE COMING,,,,,
Well this would certainly make sense to try and get one striker in on the cheap but ultimately we will have to shell out a decent wedge for another if O'Neill is true to his word and wants 2 strikers in. You have to be smart in he transfer market nowadays as there just isnt the same money being batted about like the past as well as the financial fair play rules coming in. I only heard of Kone at the weekend on skysports spanish football programme and they wer eon about this clause in his contract and saying he had an "injury" but they didnt believe it. Never seen him play or anything though but in MON I Trust. Cant see Pog coming here either as Fulham have treated him well and can probably afford bigger wages than us plus the London factor comes into play.
Well MON does seem well aware that we are in dire need of a goal scorer, so we will all just have to wait and see..
