Two targets as Sunderland shop for winger
During his time as Sunderland manager, Roy Keane grew uncharacteristically (!) miffed at what he perceived to be players snubbing the opportunity to join his side because they - or more to the point their loved ones - weren't attracted to the prospect of living on Wearside.
If Wednesday's Sky Sports rumours are to be believed then Steve Bruce has come up with a wise albeit rather obvious tactic to counter this problem: try to buy guys who have lived in the north east before.
The Black Cats are thought to be looking to sign a left winger this month and the two men that have been mentioned as leading candidates are ex-Middlesbrough star Stewart Downing and Charles N'Zogbia, formerly of Newcastle, where he was famously mistakenly called Charlie Insomnia by Joe Kinnear.
Sky Sports claim that Aston Villa knocked back Sunderland's enquiry for their top goalscorer, who played for the Mackems seven times in the Championship while on loan from Boro in 2003-04, scoring three goals, which has prompted Bruce to instead turn his attention to N'Zogbia.
The former Wigan boss brought the Frenchman to the DW Stadium in 2009 while in charge there and the 24-year-old would probably be a more obtainable target that Downing as the Latics accepted an £8 million bid for him from Birmingham in the summer, only for a deal to fall through.
Sunderland are currently three points clear in sixth but can still be backed at [4.4] to finish in the top six. Think that's a good bet? Share your thoughts below...
Published: 12 Jan 2011
peter lee (January 12, 2011 4:56 PM) said:
I'm a lifelong Sunderland fan - top six finsh ? It'd be safer betting on ELVIS PRESLEY riding SHERGAR in this years grand national . . . . . keep ya pennies in ya pocket ! top 10 would be pushing it !
chester le-street (January 12, 2011 8:37 PM) said:
Have a word Peter.