Boca Interest In Sunderland Forward Cools

Scocco has made no secret of his desire to leave Sunderland after what has been a massively underwhelming period at the club for the player but his most interested suitor, Argentinian giants Boca Juniors, have seemingly dropped their interest in the player after his agent's claims he'd prefer a move to rivals Newell's Old Boys.

The main issue with moving the player on has been due to the price tag - understandably, Sunderland would rather recuperate what was paid for the player in January - and the Argentinian clubs seemingly don't have the funds required.

Boca President Daniel Angelici, who last week confirmed the club's interest in Scocco, said:

"Scocco was within [Boca manager] Carlos Bianchi’s thoughts, but we did not like to read him in the media stating he prefers to play in Newell’s."

It's no secret that Ignacio's preference would be to return to Newell's, a club he has a huge affinity with having already spent two hugely successful spells at the club in the past, coming through the youth system there before winning the Championship in 2004. Earlier this month, the player was quoted as saying:

"If you ask me, I will tell you I want to play for Newell’s.

"Newell’s will always be first in my priorities but this time I cannot move a finger to help Newell’s in a possible negotiation.

"I can only give my opinion if you ask me where I want to go.

"There are things whch bother me, for example when I walk through the streets of Rosario and people come to me and say ‘remember you said in Argentina you will only play for Newell’s?’

"What I am saying is tprovided there is a possibility to go to Newell’s, then they will have priority, but if there are no possibilities I will have to look for second choices."

Should Scocco eventually leave the club this summer I'll view the situation as a huge shame. He's clearly a good player - his record across his career would back that up - but he came to a club on a downwards spiral and, when you couple that with the fact he's suffered a number of fitness issues over the last year or so it's easy to see why he's not been an instant success. Gus Poyet has made it clear he'd like him to stay but if recouping what we paid for him is a possibility then it's probably best for both parties if he moves on and we replace him, perhaps with a player that has experience of playing in this league.