Rivals Bid For Sunderland Stalwart

Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley is the subject of a bid from relegation rivals Fulham, according to Sky Sports.

There was a similar report in today's Sunday Mirror, but it was by Alan Oliver so, until we are out of toilet paper at Roker Report Towers and there is a real emergency, we naturally ignored it.

But now it has come from people who are actually worth taking seriously, it's probably best to acknowledge it.

Had this been the summer, I'd have been pretty chuffed with the news and all in favour of taking their hands off. It has been some turnaround for Bardsley since, however. He has roared back to his best and thoroughly redeemed himself for his summer of stupidity.

Gus Poyet has also spoken about how he wants the full back to be part of his long term plans with a new contract on the table should survival be achieved. Why entertain the possibility of strengthening a rival at the bottom for a relatively tiny fee and disadvantaging yourself in the process?

Even if it was accepted, I doubt Bardsley would want to go. He has a cup final to look forward to and is obviously loving his football at the moment.

Hopefully - and I never thought I'd be saying this a few months ago - sanity prevails and Bardsley sticks around.