Micky Gray says Sunderland should not be signing players like Joleon Lescott, compares with Middlesbrough

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The Black Cats signed free agent Lescott this week.

Former Sunderland man Micky Gray has told talkSPORT that the club should not be signing players like new arrival Joleon Lescott, and instead insisted they should model their transfer policy on near neighbours Middlesbrough.

Black Cats manager David Moyes brought former Aston Villa defender Lescott to the Stadium of Light on a free transfer deal this week after the 34-year-old’s release from Greek side AEK Athens back in November.

Lescott is the third former Everton player to reunite with Moyes on such a deal, following the arrivals of Steven Pienaar and Victor Anichebe earlier this season.

There has been some debate over Moyes making moves for free agents he knows well rather than trying to break the bank to bring high-profile stars to Wearside.

Former Sunderland man Gray has now made his own feelings known in no uncertain terms, telling talkSPORT that the transfer policy is questionable at best.

Gray said: “I do question what the managers have actually brought in. Over the last ten years, maybe even more than that, you could probably count on one hand the number of Sunderland signings where you’ve thought: ‘what a great buy’. I hate to say this phrase, but we’ve actually signed has-beens.

“I’ve got nothing against Joleon Lescott, he’s a nice guy. He’s 34 years old, it didn’t happen for him at Aston Villa or out in Greece, and he’s been given a great opportunity until the end of the season to help Sunderland in this relegation fight.

“But we shouldn’t be looking at players like that. You go further up the road at Middlesbrough – they’re bringing through young, fresh, talented players and brought other players like Alvaro Negredo in.

“I suppose Darren Bent was maybe one of the last signings who actually worked for Sunderland, and Jermain Defoe as well. But apart from that, it seems like we’re just keeping our fingers crossed, and bringing in certain players and thinking: ‘I hope this works’.”

Many Sunderland fans may share that sentiment with their former star, particularly given the club’s current peril.

The Black Cats are three points adrift at the bottom of the table having won just four games all season so far in the Premier League.

Though that gap is not insurmountable, it is uncertain whether the signing of Lescott will actually improve Moyes’ side, given the centre-back’s age and large role in Aston Villa’s disastrous campaign last term.