Roker Roundup: Sunderland linked with the signing of 25 year old Wigan Athletic winger

Sunderland linked with Solomon-Otabor

Sunderland are targeting a move for Wigan Athletic winger Viv Solomon-Otabor, according to reports.

The 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of the month and, although he was offered new terms, has yet to put pen to paper.

All Nigerian Soccer claim Solomon-Otabor, who has received call ups to the Nigerian national team in the past, wants improved terms and that has alerted Sunderland, Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic to his potential availability.

The report also claims that Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers are also keeping an eye on developments with a player who made 31 appearances for Wigan last season, scoring twice and setting up a further four goals.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Giaccherini on swapping Juventus for Sunderland

Emanuele Giaccherini revealed this week that he is contemplating retirement, but before he makes the decision, the Italian international spoke with Tutto Juve about his days with Juventus.

Giaccherini was a popular player with the Italian giants and a favourite of their then head coach Antonio Conte but he said the prospect of being Sunderland’s playmaker was too good a project to turn down.

Despite Conte wanting him to remain with Juventus and the midfielder enjoying his time with the club, he revealed that he has no doubt he made the right decision to join Sunderland, speaking highly of his time with at the Stadium of Light:

The relationship ended due to the arrival of a great offer from Sunderland.

The great Confederations Cup had prompted the English [team] to offer me an important engagement and an ambitious project where I was number 10 of the team, I was tempted by the idea of ​​going to play in the most beautiful league in the world.

The choice was very painful, because you knew what you were leaving but you did not know what you were getting. Juve made a capital gain, so we can say that we all gained a little bit except Mr. Conte who did not want to sell me.

The experience in England went very well, the structures are up to par with our great teams and the organization was at the top. In the end, the choice was the correct one.

Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

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Former Sunderland goalkeeper Mika has signed a new deal with Portuguese outfit Academica.

The 30-year-old failed to make an appearance for Sunderland’s first team but has been an ever present for Academica as they finished fourth in the Portuguese second division.

One former Black Cat who may be on the move is Didier Ndong, with the Gabon midfielder potentially heading to FC Nantes.

Ndong has been playing for Dijon but they were relegated after finishing last in Ligue 1 and L’Union claim that he could now head to Les Canaries.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images