The Bordeaux left-back has not featured in almost two months. Maybe Sunderland were right to stay away.
David Moyes has enough problems on his plate right now. The Sunderland boss certainly does not need to contend with behind the scenes conflicts on top of performances so poor that even one of the league’s tamest attacks, Southampton, can rock up to the Stadium of Light and score four, albeit with the help of a strapping Italian centre-forward.
Therefore, Moyes will perhaps believe he has dodged a bullet with Diego Contento, a reported January target, omitted from the Bordeaux squad after falling out with his manager, The Guardian reports.
Sky Sports claimed in late January that the Black Cats had identified the Italian, once of Bayern Munich, as a potential replacement for Crystal Palace-bound Patrick Van Aanholt, only for Moyes to plump for former Everton left-back Bryan Oviedo instead.
However, Contento has not made a single appearance for Bordeaux since before the winter break with manager Jocelyn Gourvennec reportedly excluding him from the squad due to behind-the-scenes tension.
The Guardian reports that the former Guingamp boss is not a man who suffers fools gladly and the 26-year-old’s recent omission has mirrored the lack of opportunities afforded to former PSG winger Jeremy Menez due to concerns over his defensive work-rate.
Therefore, although Oviedo endured a chastening afternoon against Southampton at the weekend, character is arguably as important as quality in a relegation dog fight.
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