Sunderland could find a buyer for Jack Rodwell this summer – provided West Ham land William Carvalho.
Who would have thought that a potential £35 million deal, one of the most eye-catching moves in Europe this summer, could have ramifications for Jack Rodwell?
Yet, one of the most bizarre transfer rumours of the entire window has raised its head with just two days to go until Thursday’s deadline, with The Chronicle claiming that Sporting Lisbon may consider the former England international as a potential replacement for William Carvalho.
Now, it’s far from certain that Sporting will even need a replacement. A potential move to West Ham has been mooted for some time, though The Mirror reports that they have threatened to end their interest with Sporting suddenly upping their asking price to £40 million after the Londoners had launched a bid of £35 million.
Yet, if Carvalho does indeed swap Lisbon for London before the end of the month, it appears there is a real possibility that Rodwell could be playing Champions League football this season after failing to force his way into Simon Grayson’s plans in the English second tier.
Championship to Champions League
How much Sunderland would demand for the big-money flop, who arrived amid much promise from Manchester City in a £10 million deal in 2014 (The Guardian), remains to be seen.
Rodwell was once one of English football’s brightest talents, shining at Everton and earning a move to City in the summer of 2012. However, after failing to make the grade at The Etihad, Rodwell’s career has well and truly gone off the rails.
In fact, Sunderland’s 4-0 trouncing of Crystal Palace in February represented the first time The Black Cats had won a game that Rodwell had started for them – ending a dismal run of 39 league fixtures stretching back three years.
Therefore, Rodwell can consider himself fortunate to be linked with an eye-catching move to Portugal.
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