Sunderland can only sanction a loan deal for West Ham outcast Robert Snodgrass.
Sunderland boss Simon Grayson has told the Sunderland Echo that he cannot afford to sign West Ham’s Robert Snodgrass permanently, meaning only a loan deal is possible.
The Black Cats’ unbeaten start to the new season ended on Saturday evening, as goals from Samu Saiz and Stuart Dallas handed Leeds United a 2-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland boss Grayson won’t be too downbeat from his first competitive defeat as Black Cats manager, but he may look to dip back into the transfer market again before the deadline later this month.
On Friday, Grayson told the Daily Mail that he was interested in a deal to sign West Ham United winger Robert Snodgrass, who – according to BBC Sport – has been told that he can leave the London Stadium either on loan or permanently.
Snodgrass, 29, only joined West Ham in January having starred with Hull City, notching seven goals and three assists in 20 Premier League games before being signed by the Hammers as Dimitri Payet’s replacement.
However, the Scotland international failed to register a goal or an assist for West Ham, and is already surplus to requirements under Slaven Bilic as the Hammers boss looks to make changes to his squad after two defeats from two Premier League games.
Having worked together at Leeds United, Grayson would no doubt love to reunite with Snodgrass, but he has admitted that finances may scupper his attempts to bring the winger to the Stadium of Light.
Grayson has told the Sunderland Echo that Sunderland cannot buy Snodgrass due to the fee and wages involved, meaning the only way that Grayson can get the player he wants is in a loan deal.
“I can you tell you now we won’t be buying Robert Snodgrass because of the fee and the wages that come with it,” said Grayson. “The only way we would get Robert Snodgrass is a loan deal or something like that. There won’t be too many clubs who can afford him in the Championship and if they do then they have some serious money behind him.
“I like him, though, like a lot of other managers. “We will ask the question about his availability but it will be affected by finances whoever takes him, I’m 99 per cent sure nobody in the Championship will afford his full wages,” he added.
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