June 2009 Archives

SUNDERLAND today suffered a double blow in the transfer market - after Kevin Doyle joined Wolves and Rangers issued a 'hands off' warning over Steven Davis.

The Black Cats were thought to be in pole position to land Reading striker Doyle, with the Molineux club and Bolton also keen but behind Sunderland in the queue.

However, the Republic of Ireland international was set to be unveiled as a Wolves player earlier today - teaming up with former Stadium of Light boss Mick McCarthy - after a fee of around £6m was agreed with the Royals.

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NIALL Quinn has never planned to fail as Sunderland chairman, but he will also never fail to plan for the worst as the Black Cats look to finally establish themselves as a Premier League force.

Quinn is hoping the appointment of Steve Bruce as the Wearsiders go into their third successive season in the top flight will ensure they no longer have to spend the majority of the campaign fearing relegation.

However, despite Sunderland's ambition, Quinn will not suddenly start to operate beyond his means as he refuses to put the club's long-term future at risk pursuing unrealistic objectives.

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SUNDERLAND have been linked with an audacious bid to land Barcelona star Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Sources in Spain claim the Black Cats are tracking the Icelandic international, along with Aston Villa, West Ham, Everton and Fulham.

The 30-year-old has grown frustrated at his lack of first-team outings at the Nou Camp, where Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi regularly fill the striking berths and even as an attacking midfielder, Gudjohnsen finds himself behind Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

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ANTHONY Stokes' disappointing Sunderland career is set to draw to a close with a loan move to Hibernian.

Black Cats manager Steve Bruce wants at least two attacking reinforcements, and The Journal understands that he is close to striking deals for Spurs forward Darren Bent and Hull City striker Fraizer Campbell - also a target for Newcastle.

That spells the end for Sunderland's forgotten man Stokes, who is already way down the pecking order and in desperate need of first-team football after two seasons as a bit part player.

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STEVE BRUCE is relishing his first "mouthwatering" pre-season as Sunderland boss.

The Black Cats yesterday completed their summer fixture list with the announcement of a seventh pre-season game, to be played at Peterborough on August 4.

But the big games put Bruce's side up against four clubs that will be in European competition next season.

They will test themselves against Champions League duo Atletico Madrid and Celtic as well as Europa League competitors Benfica and Hearts as Bruce aims to launch his time in charge successfully.

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NIALL Quinn believes Sunderland's bid to become a host city for the 2018 World Cup is just part of his ongoing drive to take the club on to a higher level.

Quinn helped officially launch the quest to be part of the FA's 2018 bid yesterday as he urged everyone in the region to back the separate bids being made by Sunderland and Newcastle in the hope that both would make the cut.

A total of 15 English cities have expressed an interest in hosting games should the FA win the bidding process and Quinn is as determined to help Sunderland become one of them as he is to ensure the football club continues to progress in the Premier League.

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SUNDERLAND are prepared to launch a fourth attempt to sign Reading's Irish international midfielder Stephen Hunt, despite repeatedly failing to persuade him to move to Wearside.

Hunt has been a long-standing Black Cats target and was top of Roy Keane's wanted list at one stage as he looked to add some much-needed creativity to a pedestrian midfield.

However, relations between the two clubs slowly soured as Reading reacted angrily to what they believed to be deliberately underhand attempts to unsettle the winger, to such an extent that they refused to do business with the Wearsiders last summer.

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SUNDERLAND'S hopes of landing Tom Huddlestone have received a boost after a source close to the player revealed the Tottenham star is desperate for regular Premier League action.

The Black Cats are understood to be one of three clubs to have had £8.5m bids for the 22-year-old accepted by Spurs, where the midfielder has grown frustrated at a lack of first-team outings.

Fabio Capello has earmarked Huddlestone as a future England fixture, provided he plays week-in, week-out, and that intensified the player's determination to seek regular top-flight football.

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DAVID HEALY insists he will NOT be fazed by any new influx of striking talent at Sunderland - and wants to be part of the Black Cats' "exciting" future.

The Northern Ireland international endured a "frustrating" time last season, scoring just three goals in 14 appearances and failing to start a single Premier League game.

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SUNDERLAND target Radoslav Kovac has opened the door for an approach from Steve Bruce - after his agent confirmed a move to Wearside would interest his client.

The Black Cats are actively in the market for midfield reinforcements and last week sought references for Czech Republic international Kovac (pictured left), who spent the second half of last season at West Ham.

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