Club Move Quickly to Quell Loan Criticism
Yesterday we reported that one of Spain's biggest daily sports newspapers had claimed Sunderland will be obliged to sign on-loan full back, Javier Manquillo, on a permanent basis upon the Spaniard making 25 appearances this season. The paper reported that the fee agreed with Atletico Madrid is 11 million euros.
Ever keen to report any old clap-trap and pass if off as their own, the Evening Chronicle followed suit this morning. Though they didn't even have the decency to credit Mundo Deportivo with the claims.
So it was with amusement that NewsWipe watched the Sunderland Echo join in today by publishing some counter-claims which state that the club are not committed to any such thing in Manquillo's loan deal.
To put this swift dismissal in some context - on the 9th of December, Sunderland AFC will attend the Court of Arbitration for Sport to contest paying a transfer fee for the long-departed former loanee, Ricardo Alvarez.
Most will be fully aware of the convoluted tale - that Sunderland loaned Alvarez from Italian giant, Internazionale, with an obligation to sign the player on a permanent basis should we avoid relegation in 2015. The club refused to pay the agreed fee claiming Inter Milan had hesitated in addressing Alvarez's ongoing knee problem which negated any obligation to purchase.
So it is that Sunderland are under intense scrutiny at the moment over their loan dealings in recent years. Other apparent evidence of naivety lies in the deals done for Santiago Virgini and Sebastian Coates - both signed on a permanent basis following initial spells on loan, and both nowhere near the Stadium of Light now.
Faced with some disquiet over the supposed details of Manquillo's deal, Sunderland appear to have moved quickly to expunge any claim that the player, who has so far made little impact at the Stadium of Light, will be signed permanently upon a certain number of appearances.
Certainly the club can little afford a fresh bout of criticism for their dealings in the loan market, especially with a potential bill of 9 million euros to dent their January transfer budget from the Inter dispute. So, a quick call to the Echo this morning with a dismissal issued about the Manquillo deal was likely a Monday task for someone at the club.
We're not daft. NewsWipe watches with interest.
Denayer Happy To Be Here
In an interview with the club's official website, Jason Denayer has spoken of his satisfaction at being at Sunderland for a season-long loan:
I have nothing to complain about and I just want to work hard, be in the team every week and I’m very happy and enjoying my time here at Sunderland.
The 21-year old defender returned to first team action last weekend as a substitute against Bournemouth and got a run-out against Notts County on Wednesday in the EFL Trophy. This followed a month lay-off with an injury picked up on international duty.
Last week the Evening Chronicle, swiftly followed by the Sunderland Echo, claimed 'reports in Turkey' had indicated Galatasaray, at whom Denayer was on loan last season, were looking to sign the Manchester City man in January which would have cut short his year-long loan spell at Sunderland.
Such reports were well wide of the mark as the talk in Turkey was merely of supporter disappointment that Denayer had not returned following his successful stint there.
By all accounts, the Belgian was all set for a return to Galatasaray on transfer deadline day, and was sat an airport somewhere awaiting instruction on where to go. In the end it is rumoured Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, was not keen on his charge returning to Turkey and intervened to enable Denayer's move to Sunderland.
The interview published on Saturday has already been picked up by Galatasaray fans who have expressed their dismay that Denayer, a popular figure thanks to his exploits in Istanbul, is unlikely to return to them.
So, that's that then.
Skrtel To Sunderland?
With January approaching, all eyes across Europe are turning to the transfer window, which opens six weeks on Sunday - cue another onslaught of fevered speculation and wild rumours to brighten the winter nights.
How about this one to kick things off. Reports in Turkey are claiming Sunderland will make a move for former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel. The gossip has spread to various outlets, including 90-Minutes.
The 31-year-old joined Dick Advocaat's Fenerbahçe during the summer for a fee of £5 million. But, his wealth of Premier League experience - gained from eight years at Liverpool - may make him an appealing target for David Moyes as he seeks to reinforce a leaky defence.
With Moyes no doubt bracing himself for another barrage of Lamine Kone transfer rumours in the January window, we can probably expect a load of central defenders to be linked with Sunderland.
Already outlets across Europe have suggested Moyes has identified Dynamo Kiev defender, Domagoj Vida, as a potential replacement.
The Mirror claim Sunderland are unwilling to pay more than £6 million for the 27-year old Croatian. And that figure will likely set the benchmark for the soon-to-hit tidal wave of gossip. Any available centre-half worth around £6m will be linked between now and February.
You have been warned.