HITC picks an XI of players once linked with a move to Sunderland.
Last summer, Sunderland were linked with a loan move for Manchester City keeper Joe Hart following an elbow injured suffered by Vito Mannone. As reported by the Sunderland Echo at the time, Sunderland manager David Moyes admitted he could have brought in the England international, but decided against it to protect the development of hot prospect Jordan Pickford.
In the same transfer window, Sunderland were said to be interested in signing ex-Newcastle United defender Davide Santon. The Inter Milan fullback travelled to the North East to discuss personal terms, only for Sunderland to pull out of the deal just before completion, according to the Guardian.
In 2008, the Black Cats came close to tying up a deal for Romanian centre-back Dorin Goian. The player’s agent told the Chronicle Live how much Goian wanted to play for Sunderland and under then manager Roy Keane. Unfortunately for Goian, the deal would fall through when Sunderland failed to agree on a transfer fee with Steaua București.
A year earlier, Keane was said left frustrated in his pursuit of Wigan Athletic’s Leighton Baines. According to the BBC, Sunderland agreed a fee for the fullback, but Baines turned down the move after discussing personal terms with Keane. Baines would end up signing for Everton shortly after.
In the summer, Sunderland looked set to sign a player dubbed ‘the new Yaya Toure’ after agreeing a transfer for Atalanta’s 19-year-old Franck Kessie. However, a failure to obtain a work permit meant the deal fell through in the final stages. The player’s agent told the Chronicle Live that Kessie was one international cap short of meeting Premier League requirements.
In 2012, Sunderland were said to be on the verge of signing Tottenham Hotspur duo Danny Rose and Jermaine Jenas. The Black Cats managed to wrap up a season-long loan for Rose before a permanent deal for Jenas broke down, as reported in the Daily Mail.
Stewart Downing revealed he turned down the chance to join Sunderland so that he could re-sign with hometown club Middlesbrough. The winger, who spent time on loan with the Black Cats, admitted to the Sunderland Echo that he saw a Boro return as the more appealing challenge.
David Beckham might have been bending in free-kicks at the Stadium of Light had Steve Bruce pulled off an audacious attempt to sign the former England captain. As reported in the Daily Star, Bruce tried to lure his former team-mate back to England in 2009. The LA Galaxy midfielder would instead opt for a loan move to Italian giants AC Milan, claiming that he’d only return to the Premier League with Manchester United.
Beckham wasn’t the only big-name that Bruce tried to bring to Sunderland. In 2011, the Mirror reported that Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who was set to leave German side Hamburg on a free transfer, was “close” to sealing a move to the Black Cats. The ex-Manchester United forward would end up choosing Spanish side Malaga, where he finished his playing career.
In 2007, Roy Keane tried to use his old playing ties to pull off an ambitious move for Villarreal forward Diego Forlan. Keane played alongside Forlan at Manchester United, and the Sunderland manager hoped that link might be enough to secure a move for the Uruguayan. Forlan told the BBC that he was “honoured” by Keane’s approach, but wanted to stay in Spain.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s long-awaited move to the Premier League finally happened this season, but he could have been a Sunderland player in 2002 had then manager Peter Reid been successful in his pursuit of the striker. The Times reported that Reid and Mark Blackbourne travelled to Holland to discuss a deal with Ajax, after identifying Ibrahimovic as a potential replacement for Niall Quinn. After lodging a bid of around £5million, Reid and Blackbourne were given a clear message that Ajax had no intention of selling the future star.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
