Sunderland reportedly tried to sign Norwich City midfielder Jonny Howson, but he had already decided to join Middlesbrough.
Howson is now likely to move to the Riverside Stadium, and the 29-year-old has made the right choice.
Joining Sunderland would have been too much of a risk for Howson this summer, as there is a great deal of uncertainty around the Stadium of Light.
Although Grayson’s appointment has boosted optimism, Boro look in a far better position to earn promotion.
Boro have an exciting young manager in place in Garry Monk, and they have also expressed a determination to keep the bulk of their squad together.
Sunderland, meanwhile, need full scale surgery to ensure that their team has a chance of earning promotion next term.
And Howson has picked the far safer bet by choosing Middlesbrough over Sunderland, if he wants to be playing Premier League football in 2018.
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