Sunderland to seal swoop for Manchester City ace
LOAN MOVE ... Wayne Bridge.
MANCHESTER City defender Wayne Bridge was set to complete a move to Sunderland today – but the arrival of Bolton striker Kevin Davies at the Stadium of Light hangs very much in the balance.
Former England international Bridge was due at the Academy of Light for a medical ahead of completing a loan deal which would take the 31-year-old up to the end of the current season.
Sunderland’s interest in the ex-Southampton and Chelsea defender has developed suddenly, Martin O’Neill acting swiftly after a weekend which saw Wes Brown added to a list of defensive injuries which includes Titus Bramble and Matt Kilgallon, with Michael Turner only just returning to first-team action.
Bridge has not played first-team football since being involved in a Carling Cup tie in September.
But he offers great experience, and as soon as he is up to speed in terms of fitness and match sharpness, he would free up the likes of Jack Colback and Kieran Richardson to fill in other roles in the side.
Meanwhile, Sunderland’s pursuit of Bolton hitman Kevin Davies is set to go all the way to the wire today, with O’Neill insisting he won’t be held to ransom over the signing of the 34-year-old.
The Black Cats are really keen to bring on board the striker, who would bring a host of qualities to the Sunderland front-line.
O’Neill made a respectful £1.5m bid for a player who will turn 35 in March, but the Trotters have rejected that offer, the North West outfit seeing themselves in a strong position with Sunderland struggling for strikers.
Asked if the knock picked up by Connor Wickham in Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Boro would play into Bolton’s hands, O’Neill said: “That is the point, and it is always the same with these things.
“But you’d be hoping you wouldn’t have to pay over the odds for someone who is 34, has given really decent service to Bolton, and is not playing regularly at the moment.
“We have made a bid and Bolton have rejected it, so we will see what happens next.
“We need to agree something with Bolton and, at the moment, we seem to be a bit apart.”
O’Neill claimed, going into the transfer window, that he would be happy to continue with the squad he already has, but a rash of injuries has forced a rethink.
Knocks to defender Wes Brown (knee) and midfielders David Vaughan (foot) and Lee Cattermole (hamstring) over the past few days alone have added to the need to reinforce the squad and it’s possible that Sunderland could bring two or three players before the transfer window’s 11pm deadline tonight.
O’Neill added: “I thought in the early part of the month, that if we weren’t able to do anything then we would go with what we have got.
“And I suppose you’re always thinking that you will have enough to choose from.
“But it has been a bit of a problem in the last few weeks.
“The situation we found ourselves in at the beginning of the month against Manchester City when we had to field a really patched up side is not one you would want to find yourself in for the last 15 or 16 games of the season.
“Our squad isn’t the biggest, so we will have to do our utmost to get some people in.”
The Black Cats have been linked with Stoke City centre-half Matthew Upson, another veteran whose first-team involvement this season has been sporadic but this morning hew as not a name Sunderland were considering.
A surprise option could also be the return of Sunderland’s former club captain Bolo Zenden, who is a free agent and keen to return to football now that his girlfriend has given birth – although the fact he has no contract with a club would mean that he could join at any stage of the campaign and is not limited to the transfer window.
Regardless of that, O’Neill will have his hands full today juggling preparations for Norwich City’s visit to the Stadium of Light tomorrow with co-ordinating the club’s activity.
And the manager admitted: “It’s not ideal when you have a game the day after deadline day – and in fact, we were originally due to play the Norwich game tonight! - but I’ve been aware that this would be the situation.”
n Young Sunderland defender Blair Adams’ loan spell at League Two side Northampton Town has been extended into a second month.
The 20-year-old, from South Shields, has made five appearances for the Cobblers since joining at the beginning of January, and will now stay at Sixfields until February 25.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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