Premier League - No rush over Zenden

Eurosport - Thu, 08 Oct 12:55:00 2009

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will take his time before deciding whether to offer Boudewijn Zenden a contract at the Stadium of Light.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Marseille - Zenden - 0

Former Barcelona, Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder Zenden was invited to join the Black Cats for training over the next fortnight and Bruce revealed he had already made a good impression. The 33-year-old is a free agent after leaving Marseille at the end of last season, meaning he can be registered outside a transfer window.

Bruce told the Sunderland Echo: "I got a call from Bolo a little while ago and he said he was without a club so I invited him down to train."

He added: "He's had a great career at some huge clubs and when an opportunity comes to look at someone with that background then you take it.

"He looks in very good nick, considering he has not had a club. He has been training in Holland and has obviously looked after himself very well."

Bruce accepts Sunderland are short of bodies in midfield after selling Dean Whitehead to Stoke and Grant Leadbitter and Carlos Edwards to Ipswich and allowing Teemu Tainio to join Birmingham on loan.

He added: "One thing that does concern me slightly is that we're a little light on numbers.

"Bolo has played at the highest level and can cover a few positions.

"He'll work with us for a couple of weeks and we'll take it from there. I dare say I'll sit down and talk with him after our next game.

"At the moment, there is no commitment on either side. He's having a look at us and we're having a look at him. But certainly his past record shows he has the calibre that you need in the Premier League."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 11 of 11

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. He's had a great career at some huge clubs...­ Didn't he used to play for Boro? Sign him anyway,­ we could do with a little Dutch flair.

    From Charles, on Thu 8 Oct 10:47PM

  2. Sign him now!!!!

    From cameron w, on Thu 8 Oct 9:08PM

  3. Two mackems in a vauxhall zafira have driven off a­ cliff near Whitley Bay. Officers at the scene say its­ an appalling tragedy as the car was capable of seating­ seven....

    From Tony K, on Thu 8 Oct 8:47PM

  4. A family of mackems moved in next door to me. Their­ kids asked me if i fancied a water fight. Just thought­ i'd share this with you all while i wait for the­ kettle to boil.......

    From Tony K, on Thu 8 Oct 8:44PM

  5. olgamonte_fine: Let me know where you live and I'll­ show you how much I care.

    From PATRICK, on Thu 8 Oct 6:54PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Jesus is this Paperboy actually getting behind his­ manager? Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

    A tenner says that if­ Zenden signs then Paperboy will be hammering him on­ these very pages within a week - he just cant help­ himself!!

    From Tony K, on Thu 8 Oct 5:53PM

  7. 5 & 7: In Steve Bruce's opinion: He's had a­ great career at some huge clubs and when an opportunity­ comes to look at someone with that background then you­ take it.'
    Yet you say: 'He is a has been and­ should be forgotten with' (eurosportcommentator) in­ badly constructed sentence, which shows that either­ english is not your mother tongue, or your educational­ achievements are poor.
    'He's not a has­ been......he's a never was!' which suggests­ that you think you know more about footballand­ footballers than SB does, although I hardly think­ that's likely.
    Anyone who has enjoyed a­ distinguished career at clubs like Liverpoo, Chelski­ and Barca cannot possibly be a bad player, and such­ being the case would add very nicely to the first rate­ squad SB is assembling. Why not let Bruce make the­ decisions, based on his knowledge and experience: after­ all, it is what he gets paid for.

    From Paperboy, on Thu 8 Oct 4:58PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hes not a has been.......hes a never was !

    From Dean O, on Thu 8 Oct 4:31PM

  9. He is a has been and should be forgotten with

    From eurosportcommentator, on Thu 8 Oct 4:05PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    who cares about Sunderland?.

    From olgamonte_fine, on Thu 8 Oct 3:19PM

  11. Who cares????? I effing care!!!!!!

    From Fergie, on Thu 8 Oct 2:58PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account