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Craig Gardner may be following Lee Cattermole and David Vaughan out of Sunderland in a deadline day midfield exodus. He is apparently in discussions over a loan move to West Bromwich Albion.
This one is courtesy of an exclusive by the Sunderland Echo's Graeme Anderson, so make sure you remember that when 'SKY SOURCES!!!!' plant their flag on it later.
Anyway, Gardner's exit was quite predictable, as was the destination. He has perhaps never been truly settled on Wearside since his move from Birmingham, and with a matter of months left on his contract and little prospect of getting another, it was inevitable he was one who would move sooner or later.
What Sunderland's master-plan might be here is less easy to predict. The decks look like they are being cleared for someone. What is even more curious is Gus Poyet flat-out denied Gardner would be moving earlier today. Bare with us as we won't have a long wait to find out what is the end-game here.
