Sunderland Join The List of Clubs Hunting Sandro Ramirez?
David Moyes is looking to Spain in his quest for a new striker, so says Italian master-of-gossip Calciomercato.
Sandro Ramirez has caught the eye of the Sunderland boss who has joined a list of admirers that includes Tottenham Hotspur.
The product of Barcelona's youth system moved to CF Malaga from the Nou Camp in the summer where he has been in good form, with six goals in thirteen games in La Liga.
Indeed, Spurs are reputed to have been close to signing the 21-year-old in the summer before he opted to stay in Spain. Mauricio Pochettino is set to finally land his man in January according to the Sunday People, but does he now face competition from a Sunderland side who are in the market for a striker?
Well, it would be nice to think so. But, at a starting figure of £15m you might think Sunderland may be priced out of this one. However, if David Moyes is able to raise some funds with a couple of shrewd sales in the winter window - who knows?
Moyes - We May Not Be Able To Use Anichebe Up Front Every Week
Meanwhile as David Moyes ponders adding some additional fire-power to his ranks, he has been again speaking about the dangers of using Nigerian hitman, Victor Anichebe, as a direct partner to Jermain Defoe.
In the Northern Echo, the Sunderland boss says:
To go with two cente-forwards in modern football is very hard because so many teams are playing in another way, but we can use Victor where he does not always play through the middle.
In truth Anichebe and Defoe have yet to line up in a traditional 4-4-2 or 5-3-2 based partnership. The 28-year-old Nigerian has tended to play deeper and wider off the shoulder of Defoe - pulling defenders out with him or offering cover to the fullbacks, especially at Liverpool last Saturday.
Will that be the way to use Big Vic against Leicester? With Sunderland needing something from the game, Moyes will have to play more expansively than last week's showing at Anfield.
John Aldridge - Sunderland Defensive? Manchester United Were Worse
Former Liverpool player and unpopular figure on Wearside, John Aldridge, says Manchester United were 'just as bad' as defensive Sunderland when comparing both sides' performances at Anfield this season.
In his Liverpool Echo column, Aldridge said:
I think it was frustration which saw Jurgen Klopp brand Sunderland the most defensive team he’s played against after the game on Saturday.
I actually think Manchester United came and were just as bad.
Our goalie had to pull off two good saves against Sunderland, against Manchester United he didn’t have a save to make.
Aldridge enjoys a certain notoriety amongst Sunderland supporters for a bizarre incident sixteen years ago when he managed Tranmere Rovers.
His Merseyside team knocked Peter Reid's Sunderland side out of the FA Cup after Aldridge replaced a sent-off player with a substitute towards the end of the fourth round tie in 2000.
Peter Reid, then Sunderland boss, said of the referee's failure to spot the blatant flaunt of the laws of the game "it was like Billy Smart's circus out there. I don't like talking about officials instead of football - but someone has made a major error".
And Finally...
For those of you funding your season card by paying in installments keep an eye out for your final payment leaving the bank tomorrow. Here's to it being worth the expense with an early Christmas present of three points against Leicester on Saturday.