The Gossip: Portuguese Playmaker To Bring The Keys?

It has been a eerily quiet week in terms of transfers for Sunderland, which actually made for quite a nice change. The reason behind it is probably the Hong Kong trip rather than a general satisfaction with the squad, but that didn't stop a few new names being linked with a move to join Paolo Di Canio's revolution.

First, the boring numbers part, those in bold have signed.

Valentin Roberge (Maritimo)
Mobido Diakite (Lazio)
Diogo Viana (F.C. Penafiel)
Danny Rose (Tottenham)
Emmanuel Cascione (Pescara)
Danilo D'Ambrosio (Torino)
El Hadji Ba (Le Havre)
Mauro Zarate (Lazio)
Bas Dost (Wolfsburg)
George Mandjeck (Auxerre)
Charlie Austin (Burnley)
Alfred Finnbogason (SC Heerenveen)
Greg Sandomierski (Genk)
Tom Allan (York City)
Salif Sane (Nancy)
Cabral (Basel)
Lucas Orban (Tigre)
Gary Hooper (Celtic)
Fraser Forster (Celtic)
Milos Krasic (Fenerbache)
Wilfried Bony (Vitesse)
Grant Holt (Norwich)
Andreas Weimann (Aston Villa)
Paulinho (Livorno)
Nacho Scocco (Al Ain)
Reto Ziegler (Juventus)
John Guidetti (Manchester City)
Josuha Guilavogui (Saint-Étienne)
Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli)
Luis Pedro Cavanda (Lazio)
Joseph Alfred Duncan (Inter Milan)
Alessandro Rosina (Siena)
Jonathan Biabiany (Parma)
Benjamin Mendy (Le Havre)
Scott Parker (Tottenham)
Johan Elmander (Galatassaray)
Abel Hernandez (Palermo)
Daniel Moberg Karlsson (IFK Göteborg)
Remi Gomis (Valenciennes)
Matej Vydra (Udinese)
Mejdi Traoui (Espérance de Tunis)
Jozy Altidore (AZ)
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)
Vito Mannone (Arsenal)
Jérémie Aliadière (Lorient)
Jeroen Zoet (PSV)
Ibrahima MBaye (Inter)
Daniel Bessa (Inter)
Gino Peruzzi (Vélez Sarsfield)
Callum McManaman (Wigan)
Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham)
Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Heerenveen)
Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth)
Chung-yong Lee (Bolton)
Robert Acquafresca (Bologna)
Charis Mavrias (Panathinaikos)
Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus)
Przemyslaw Tyton (PSV)
Maxi Lopez (Catania)
Innocent Emeghara (Lorient)
Bastian Oczipka (Eintract Frankfurt)
Christiano Biraghi (Inter)
Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
Aly Cissokho (Valencia)
Luca Marrone (Juventus)
Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce)
Emil Hallfreðsson (Chievo)
Frederik Sorensen (Bologna)
Jorge Flores (Tigres)
Fabio Daprelà (Brescia)
Libor Kozák (Lazio)
Julio Buffarini (San Lorenzo)
Manuel Fernandes (Besiktas)

So then 5 new names taking us to a wonderful looking 73 in total. If that isn't a sign that we are in for a good week, then I don't know what is!

The most exciting fresh name on the list is definitely that of Manuel Fernandes. The Portuguese central midfielder is said to be refusing to sign a new contract at Besiktas, and with him having just one one year left on his current deal that may force his club to cash-in this summer.

Di Canio said in the week that he was hoping to add a creative midfielder to his squad who can 'bring the keys to the house' and Fernandes would certainly satisfy that criteria. He is a quick and athletic player who is known for his ability to carry the ball and inject pace into attacks from central areas.

However, this does seem to be more like a link you want to believe rather one one you necessarily feel you should. Sunderland were credited with an interest in the former Portsmouth and Everton man last January, so it seems likely their name has just been tagged onto a story about his contract situation.

One interesting fact about him though is that he shares a cousin, Gelson Fernandes, with Cabral, who he would likely partner in midfield if he did wind up on Wearside.

Elsewhere the perpetual search for a left back continued, but just how accurately the press were reporting it is anyone's guess. Mexican Jorge Torres has been strongly linked by the tabloids, though we don't believe he is on the list of targets, at least for now.

Meanwhile, the Italian press are quite convinced that Fabio Daprelà of Brescia is the man of our dreams, but he seems much more likely to head to Palermo. They are also of the opinion that Sunderland remain in the hunt for a new striker with Lazio's beanpole Czech Libor Kozák the latest name to be pulled from the hat. Unless another striker departs, however, it seems highly unlikely that another one will come in.

There have been no fresh updates regarding Aly Cissokho, who still looks to be a top, if unlikely, left back target.

Argentina has once again proven to be an interesting source of gossip, and that is something we can expect to continue given the army of scouts with big contacts in the region now employed at the club. Julio Buffarini, a busy and traditional right winger who plays for San Lorenzo is rumoured to have caught Sunderland's eye. With Adam Johnson and David Moberg Karlsson already here and impressing, that one doesn't look all that likely to us.

The Gino Peruzzi story refuses to die, too. It is now pretty well-known that the Vélez man failed a medical but it seems Sunderland's interest in him is far from over. He is back at his club and embarking on a rehabilitation program apparently at the behest of Black Cats medical staff, so expect that one to rumble away in the background for a while yet.

The right back chase is almost as ridiculous as the left back one, in truth. Luis Pedro Cavanda, who has appeared to be a strong target all summer, now looks set to stay at Lazio with the Italian press absolutely adamant that the Belgian has penned a new 5-year contract to stay in Rome.

I think that's about your lot for another week.

That's your lot for another week. Remember you can keep up with all the stories as they happen via our DEDICATED SUNDERLAND TRANSFER CENTRE.