ALS NEWS ROUNDUP a-love-supreme/roundup.htm NEW HOME KIT... LEFT BACK LINKED Sunderland have today revealed their new home kit for the 2014/15 season to a mixed reaction from supporters. While the design is quite neat, some have taken issue with the gold trim around the sleeves as it is non-traditional. I think well live though! John OShea spoke of the iconic red and white stripes, saying: Wherever you go in the city you see the red and white stripes, Its evident for all to see just how proud the fans are of their iconic kit and we as players share in that pride every time we pull on the shirt. Could we actually sign a real life left-back on a permanent deal who is actually decent? That is the question ALS ask today as Sunderland are reportedly interested in Schalke left-back Christian Fuchs – with Marcos Alonso returning to pre-season training with Fiorentina. The 28-year-old is interesting Southampton and Bordeaux but also Sunderland, with Lee Congerton having tapped up German contacts accrued during his Hamburg days. Sunderland are desperate to sign a left-back before they head to the Algarve later this month and are growing increasingly impatient with Fiorentinas negotiation strategy around Alonso. The Spanish defender would prefer to move to England but Fiorentina seem set on making Sunderland wait Alonsos father and agent, Marcos Alonso senior, said last week: Now its up to Fiorentina to make a decision. Right now, we only know that he has been asked to begin preparing for pre-season and he still has two years of his contract (with Fiorentina). Fuchs, the Austria international, could be available for as little as £2million and would fit in with Poyets plan to turn Sunderland into a more potent attacking force. The Wearsiders are unlikely to sign anyone before the weekend but there is expected to be a growing urgency attached to their recruitment drive next week after their first pre-season game. A left-back who isnt Alonso yet also isnt Andrea Dossena. Good news? Contract talks were at their height between Sweden international Sebastian Larsson and Sunderland in the last few weeks of an intense Premier League season, but eventually the 29-year-old agreed a new three year contract with Sunderland. Poyet couldnt have been more delighted to keep the Swede: It was a difficult one because when we started negotiations with a couple of players and it didnt work out, we stopped and made a decision not to talk to anyone until we knew where we finished. That decision could create a doubt for players of Maybe they dont want me, but it wasnt anything like that. It was a matter of waiting and making a decision at the end. When we knew there was a possibility of Seb staying, we really pushed it. It was very important to have a quick chat and quick agreement on the contract and get him signed. He was so important during the season - and especially at the end - that we were really desperate to have Seb on board with us. Gus Poyet has also shed some light on Jozy Altidores journey back to fitness and the involvement of Sunderland since he picked up that injury in the World Cup. Gus said: From the beginning, the doctor has been in touch with the US medical staff. In the beginning it looked bad but it got much better during the weeks and Jozy was nearly available for the last 16. If, say, the US had got through to the next stage, Jozy would have played a part. We know hamstring injuries are tricky and that you have to be careful not to come back too quickly. Jozy deserves his holidays now. We have an agreement as to how many days he will have after finishing in the World Cup. I am sure, if nothing goes wrong, that when Jozy is back with us for pre-season, he is going to be fit to start training without any problems. Stories have emerged this morning of potential interest in Charlie Austin who scored 20 Championship goals last season for QPR. Rangers have bid for Ajax striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and are keen on Norwich striker Gary Hooper and hence could be willing to let Austin go. Austin wouldnt solve our striking problems and the move appears unlikely. Nevertheless theres something that people say about spending for spendings sake… More encouraging are fresh tidings of our Borini pursuit, with an £8 million bid speculated. I wouldnt expect this deal to go through, especially at £8 million however dare to dream, right? News on everyones favourite 20-year old ginger-haired winger with the first name of Duncan. In case youre scratching your head after that cryptic hint, I refer of course to Carlisle debut-sensation Duncan Watmore, who will have the chance to catch Gus Poyets eye in pre-season after joining the first-team squad on the training field. The 20-year-old is likely to be part of Sunderlands week-long trip to Portugal at the end of the month.Watmore made big strides in his maiden campaign on Wearside last season after arriving from Blue Square North side Altrincham 12 months ago. The winger was the stand-out member of the Under-21 squad and he made his first-team debut before gaining valuable experience north of the border with relegated Hibernian during the second half of the season. Poyet is keen to take a closer look at Watmore along with fellow young arrivals from last summer – El-Hadji Ba and Charis Mavrias. Another of Sunderlands U21 squad who could get a chance in pre-season is left-back Tom Robson, who penned a new two-year deal at the end of last season. Robson was a target for Fulham after a series of impressive performances for the U21s, yet ultimately agreed a contract to remain at the Stadium of Light. Reports that Crewe Alex have agreed a fee with Sunderland for striker Max Clayton are wide of the mark. The 19-year-old forward is out of contract at Gresty Road and has long made it clear he wishes to leave. Due to his age he cannot simply walk away – the Railwaymen are due compensation from his next club. The Nantwich-based teenager is currently on trial at Sunderland trying to impress. Today national media reports claim a £1m deal has been reached between the clubs however there have been no transfer discussions with the Black Cats about Clayton, who is less than halfway through an official two-week trial. Homegrown star Clayton, an England youth international who has played almost 100 times for Crewe and twice contributed to triumphs at Wembley, has attracted the interest of Premier League clubs in the past. If he leaves, the Alex are bound to seek substantial compensation for a player they have always tipped for the top.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 10:05:34 +0000
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