Transfers - Gossip Shop: Bruce to Sunderland

Eurosport - Wed, 27 May 23:21:00 2009

Wigan boss Steve Bruce could be set for a sensational return to his native North East if reports linking him to the vacant Sunderland job are to be believed.

FOOTBALL Wigan boss Steve Bruce, linked with a move to fellow Premier League side Sunderland. - 0

Bruce has done an excellent job at Wigan, turning what were traditionally Greater Manchester's sixth club into a solid Premier League side.

Reports claim that a £5 million compensation package had already been agreed with the Latics, clearing the way for the former Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Huddersfield manager to discuss personal terms with the Wearsiders.

And Bruce, who has irritated fans of previous clubs by walking as soon as a better offer comes along, was typically ambiguous about the rumour.

"There's always speculation and you cannot stop that. It is flattering," the former Manchester United defender told Sky Sports.

"But I'm very, very pleased with what's happened with us (Wigan) and I'm quite pleased with what's happening in the future, so we'll see what develops."

At first glance, it seems like a crazy move to leave a solid, mid-table club who have the potential to go further with a few key signings.

But Bruce will almost certainly lose star winger Antonio Valencia to Real Madrid or another big club this summer, while the goals dried up after on-loan Zamalek striker Amr Zaki threw his toy camel out of the pram and decided he did not fancy being a top player after all.

Bruce was also forced to sell Emile Heskey to Aston Villa and Wilson Palacios to Tottenham, sorting low-cost deals for Mido and Ben Watson.

Yes, there will be cash to spend from the Valencia sale, but it is unlikely Bruce will be able to afford adequate replacements for both him and Zaki, thus leaving the club short of the four best players from their impressive early-season form.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have the cash of billionaire Ellis Short to burn and the lure of 45,000 wild, topless Mackems roaring their players on, as opposed to the five men and a dog Wigan took half an hour down the road to Old Trafford this season.

Expect Bruce, then, to become the fifth manager at the Stadium of Light in as many years.

Latics chief Dave Whelan is reportedly lining up current number two Eric Black and Swansea boss Roberto Martinez - a former Wigan player - as possible replacements.

Manchester United could yet keep Carlos Tevez after all after chief exec David Gill softened his approach to the fee MSI are demanding for the Argentina striker.

Tevez has been linked with moves to Chelsea, Liverpool and Internazionale after his two-year loan deal at Old Trafford expires this summer.

The former West Ham star admitted he was disillusioned with United's reluctance to cede to Kia Joorabchian's demands, but boss Sir Alex Ferguson wants to keep him.

"It is clear that we have to pay a certain sum, and that is £25.5 million," Gill was quoted saying in British newspapers. "Our honest opinion, in the current economic climate, is that fee is a bit top heavy - but that's not to say that we won't pay that if we want to secure the transfer.

"Other clubs may be ready to pay that - or more than that - so we have to understand that we are operating in a certain marketplace."

Chelsea's Portugal duo Ricardo Carvalho and Deco could be in line for a move to Inter after boss Jose Mourinho was promised a big transfer kitty as part of his new contract.

Carvalho is considered an important player at Stamford Bridge but his season was ruined by injury and Inter would offer him a fresh start and reunion with buddy Mourinho.

Deco, meanwhile, failed to impress since a decent start to his £8m move from Barcelona, and the slower pace of Serie A would suit his somewhat languid game more than the hustle and bustle of the Premier League.

They would go for a combined fee of around £12m.

Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos has begged to be allowed to stay at Milan after finding his feet in the second half of his loan season.

The multi-lingual Swiss international, who is viewed as no more than back-up at the Emirates, played 19 games for the Rossoneri and is loving life in Italy.

"I feel very good here and would like to stay," he said. "At the beginning it was a little difficult because I was injured, but I have worked extensively with (Carlo Ancelotti) and this helped me a lot for the second half of the season."

Fulham are also reportedly keen, should Arsenal firm-up their interest for Whites centre-half Brede Hangeland.

Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin could be tempted back to the North West after Bolton reportedly launched a £3m bid for the Frenchman.

Former Manchester City stopper Distin, 31, has been one of Pompey's mainstays in recent years but the managerial and financial uncertainty at Fratton Park could lead him to seek a more stable option.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. come on lads every top manager will already be with a­ club and reallisticly who would want to come to­ sunderland after a season like that. i think we got the­ best man for the job regardless of what he was born and­ bred (remember 73 ) i trust quinny and wat has he ever­ done bad for sunderland give him and bruce a chance­ HAWAY THE LADS

    From safcandy39, on Sun 7 Jun 11:37AM

  2. Apart from all the points mentioned here, if Bruce gets­ the job and we have any success whatsoever, the Mags­ will offer him a job just to spite us. He will be over­ there as fast as his little black and white legs will­ carry him.

    From goldsmith110, on Fri 29 May 9:55AM

  3. why on earth do sunderland want this traitor as their­ manager the man has no loyalties to any club he­ coaches?

    From Skittles, on Thu 28 May 9:16AM

  4. Hey Cameron where's that egocentric sp@nkbubble­ called checkerboard5000 been all season? could have had­ hours of fun with that tool,he shows up in the last­ week of the season more delusional even than madgodfrey­ and clint magnum spouting all kinds of inane­ drivel,
    just gotta hope he sticks about in the close­ season,could have some serious fun with that chump ha­ ha.He's "studied psychology" you know,ha­ ha hasn't every university graduate since 1995.I­ promise not to keep rubbing it in that your lot are in­ the league that dare not speak it's name,everytime­ I come on here,that would be too easy and a cheap shot.

    From jack torrance, on Thu 28 May 8:38AM

  5. bruce has to be the most disloyal manager in the game,­ every club he manages he walks out on as soon as a new­ offer comes along, why bother sunderland he will do the­ same to you.

    From who am i, on Thu 28 May 8:26AM

  6. yes we had keane and we came up but he spent alot of­ money well he wasted alot to get us up and i think the­ championship was a poor league that year and maybe in­ that way we were a bit lucky but as u say ashley is­ going to spend next to nothing and it looks astrong­ league this time round

    From heslop448, on Wed 27 May 8:10PM

  7. heslop448
    You see, that's what baffles me about­ safc fans saying Shearer's not the man for the job­ because he's got no experience; you just said it­ yourself there, you said and i quote . . . 'u will­ need a exprienced­ manager to get out of the­ championship'. Now i do see where you are coming­ from, however . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . . How much­ experience did Roy rogers Keane have when he dragged­ you up from the depths of the Championship to Champions­ within one season, no managerial experice whatsoever­ wasn't it?
    For what it's worth, i'm not­ convinced Shearer will take the job; ashley is gonna­ promise him jack and Shearer may be a lot of things,­ but magician he ain't..
    The only way you or i will­ ever see the return of England's Number-One derby­ game is when ashley sells up and the new owners invest­ heavily in the playing and coaching staff of NUFC.

    From cameron w, on Wed 27 May 7:59PM

  8. cameron think it lasted about 2yrs the last time we­ went down so u got a bit of pain to suffer yet,its­ apity there is no derby game for a while but maybe­ we'll get drawn in cup.think shearer would be bad­ choice for manager for u but he could do a very good­ job in a similar role to quinn u will need a exprienced­ manager to get out of the championship it won't be­ easy cos every team going to think its their cup final­ when the come to sid james next year

    From heslop448, on Wed 27 May 7:27PM

  9. "Sunderland, meanwhile, have the cash of­ billionaire Ellis Short to burn and the lure of 45,000­ wild, topless Mackems roaring their players on"
    -­ Are you insane Reporter???? If you think I'm­ getting my tits out for the lads (MAN BOOBS)­ neeeewaaaayyy!

    From Disgusted, on Wed 27 May 7:12PM

  10. i agree FTM even BRUCE !. Peter TAILOR . . . come on­ pete you know you want to

    From its me !, on Wed 27 May 5:37PM

  11. turned his hometown team down twice & he is­ flattered to be linked with SAFC, what a guy! He'll­ always be a fat geordie b*****d but if he comes &­ does the biz for the red'n white army so be it!
    FTM

    From downy100, on Wed 27 May 5:34PM

  12. hey! cameron "w" (reminds me of george­ .....bush ...or some thing ) its the only way the scum,­ sorry , i mean the mags will be represented in the­ premier league next season eh? \carry on fizzin­ matey boy , the fizzy pop league for you . ps... it­ aint gonna happen

    From its me !, on Wed 27 May 5:26PM

  13. heslop448,
    Ouch, these little digs about my lot being­ in the fizzy pop league - got nowt i can come back at­ you with!!!!!!
    So i think it could be the end of my­ bantering with you lot for a while - you are always­ gonna throw that in my face, and like my team, i­ can't win!!
    I've come in for some right old gyp­ ever since 6 o' clock on Sunday; hopefully­ it'll die down soon and the media peole will leave­ NUFC alone to get on with the massive rebuilding­ job.
    Well done on another season of EPL by the way; as­ i always said, i never wanted safc to be relegated -­ eternal struggle yes, relegation . . . no,no,no.

    From cameron w, on Wed 27 May 3:03PM

  14. Ha-ha Jack; yup i think he would be a great manager for­ NUFC but NOT for safc.
    He's a Toon boy for­ pity's sake; he will NEVER be accepted at­ safc!
    Sensible people like yourself can see in Steve­ Bruce, a good manager; but the majority will just see­ no further in Steve Bruce, other than he's, . . .­ . ' a scummy Mag'.
    And that's why i will be­ astonished if he took the job; in fact i don't­ think the plank would even be that daft enough to­ consider him for the post!
    I reckon you'll get wee­ Gordon; which to me shows a lack of ambition jack.
    Now­ if you want to show me you're ambitious . . . get­ Martin Jol in!

    From cameron w, on Wed 27 May 2:01PM

  15. cameron if he does take the job u should be sick as a­ chip he wouldn't come to the club he supports in­ their hour of need so that sums up what he thinks about­ u lot,he will be a vast improvement on anyone we've­ had for years and remember the last newcastle man to­ take over at sunderland was a certain BOB STOKOE he did­ alright didn't he and it would mean that at least­ one newcastle fan was watching premiership football­ next season

    From heslop448, on Wed 27 May 1:59PM

  16. Cameron it's only a month ago you said Bruce would­ be taking over at your place,surely this would be the­ last and definitive kick in the teeth for all Mags­ everywhere if he came to us?I think he's a great­ bloke and a great manager.We would forgive him his­ previous indiscretions of supporting your boys in his­ misguided youth and would welcome him into the­ warm,cosey,Mackem fold with open arms and a big sloppy­ kiss.

    From jack torrance, on Wed 27 May 1:44PM

  17. If Sunderland want a manager who likes to make up­ stories about other clubs unsettling his players in­ order to justify poor performances then Steve Bruce is­ your man!

    From youknowtheydidit, on Wed 27 May 1:22PM

  18. The only glory hunter here is Steve Bruce. When­ Sunderland said they were going for a big name I really­ believed them. Alas they have shown that they don't­ really have ambitions on being a top European club. As­ soon as appointed look for the bookies to give odds on­ Sunderland going down next May.

    From D S, on Wed 27 May 1:09PM

  19. What is peoples problem with deco. He has been injured­ most of the season. How many bad games has he had?­ People claim he has been rubbish because he hasnt­ played. When fit he was the best player on the park in­ nerly every game.

    We'll see what the new coach­ wants n what ytpe of player he's looking for. A­ similar tyoe of player is probably needed if he is to­ leave though.

    From yip, on Wed 27 May 1:08PM

  20. That was a very unreasoable statement and untrue. First­ it was 6 men and 2 dogs, and second, with a name like­ Maher, he could only count hairs on his girlfriends­ legs supporting anything German

    From Rob, on Wed 27 May 1:06PM
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