Details on Wyke move
Charlie Wyke completed his move to Sunderland yesterday evening, as the 6’3” Bradford City striker signed a three-year deal at the Stadium of Light for an undisclosed fee.
The deal to sign the 25-year-old had actually been agreed with Bradford late last week, but the Bantams wanted to sign a replacement before they would allow Sunderland to complete Wyke’s transfer.
They confirmed the signing of Eoin Doyle from Preston North End at the same time Wyke was announced - and with the player carrying a slight knock which rules him out of the opening game of the season, Sunderland were happy to wait.
There was almost a late sting in the tail, though.
While the striker was at the Academy of Light waiting to complete his move, two Championship clubs tried to gazump us to his signature by lodging late bids - but, thankfully, both were unsuccessful as Jack Ross managed to secure the signature of his new number 9 having already convinced the player that Sunderland was the best place for him to play his football this season.
Kone completes move
Lamine Kone completed his loan move to RC Strasbourg yesterday, and the defender has been speaking about his move back to France - revealing how happy he was to move back to Ligue 1.
I am very happy to come to Strasbourg in Ligue 1. I hope to play the role that is expected of me and revive [my career] with my new club.
I was seduced by the enthusiastic speech of the coach, Thierry Laurey. I also know that there is an incredible atmosphere at the Meinau stadium.
I can not wait to be there.
Lamine #Koné, défenseur international ivoirien de 29 ans est prêté avec option d’achat au Racing par @SunderlandAFC, le club anglais auquel il appartient. #Bienvenue #Mercato
— RC Strasbourg Alsace (@RCSA) August 1, 2018
➡️ https://t.co/Spg7aKIZXU pic.twitter.com/ZJBx8PKR14
Smith talks Swindon move
Sunderland academy product Martin Smith joined League Two side Swindon Town this summer after a spell in Northern Ireland with Coleraine.
Swindon manager Phil Brown snapped the midfielder up after a successful trial spell at the County Ground, and the 22-year-old can’t wait for the season to start.
I’m loving it here. Swindon is a massive club with a massive fan base, and there are some great people at this club.
The manager is building a great atmosphere, everyone is loving it. And we’re all on the same page.
For me, I’ve got to keep working hard and keep improving to stay in the team.
Quite a few of the players are at a good level, but only some of us have had two or three full sets of 90 minutes under our belt.
We will be where we need to be by the time the Macclesfield game comes around.
I personally feel fit and strong.
Khazri too expensive for Rennes
Wahbi Khazri moved to Saint-Etienne last week, despite being strongly moved with a return to his former loan side Rennes for most of pre-season.
Rennes’ chairman Olivier Létang has been speaking about missing out on the Tunisian international, and said the financial aspect of the deal was just too move for the Breton based club:
The decision was ours, because Wahbi wanted to stay.
After that there are economic considerations, without going into details. But we set a framework that I wished we respected in relation to our budget, the balance of the locker room. We wanted to stay on it.
We had the hand because I can assure you that Wahbi really wanted to stay. It has been a fantastic human encounter because it is someone who is really, very, very good.
After he made another choice, which was more economical, with his departure to Saint-Etienne. I often talk about respecting the institution and it was important to respect that framework.
Rodwell trains with Everton
After finally leaving Sunderland officially on the 1st of July, Jack Rodwell had been on trial with Premier League side Watford in the hope of earning a contract with the Hornets - but that move was ultimately an unsuccessful one for the future England centre-back.
With no contract on offer from Watford, the 27-year-old is training with Everton’s under-23 side - managed by David Unsworth - to maintain his fitness while he looks for a new club.
Reports suggest that Everton have no interest in re-signing Rodwell but are just allowing him to train at Finch Farm while he is unattached.