Roker Report - Transfer Deadline Day: As It HappenedSunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51357/rr-fav.png2013-09-02T22:23:53+01:00http://rokerreport.sbnation.com/rss/stream/44490332013-09-02T22:23:53+01:002013-09-02T22:23:53+01:00Confirmed: Sessegnon Signs With Baggies
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<figcaption>Robert Cianflone</figcaption>
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<p>Stephane Sessegnon has completed a move to West Bromwich Albion for a fee thought to be around £6m.</p> <p>West Bromwich Albion have completed the signing of Stephane Sessegnon, with the fee reportedly set at around £6m for the Beninese striker.</p>
<p>After another summer of wondering whether or not he would leave, I doubt a single person would have guessed that West Brom would be where he was plying his trade by the end of the window.</p>
<p>However, that's where he's ended up after not having a great deal of options, which begs a number of questions -- Have we sold him too cheaply? Why have we even strengthened a rival? While on the other hand questions can be asked about him -- If he is as good as we think, why was nobody else interested at a seemingly knock-down rate?</p>
<p>Either way, he isn't here any more. There's no doubting at all he provided us with some magical moments throughout his Sunderland career. The only problem being that all to many of these were merely 'moments' and not full games or a run of form, and it's that inconsistency which ultimately lead to his demise.</p>
<p>A great player when he could be bothered, absolutely superb, but everyone knows you're not always going to get that out of him.</p>
<p>Regardless of what you think we should at least thank him for what he did do while he was here, and ask the questions another time.</p>
<p>Farewell, the Dumbledore of Dahomey.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/9/2/4687256/confirmed-sessegnon-signs-with-baggiesSimonWalsh2013-09-02T22:19:04+01:002013-09-02T22:19:04+01:00Confirmed: Dossena Signs For Sunderland
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<figcaption>Giuseppe Bellini</figcaption>
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<p>Sunderland have completed the signing of Andrea Dossena from Napoli.</p> <p>Sunderland have completed a permanent one-year deal for Italian left-back Andrea Dossena from Napoli, after he passed a medical earlier today.</p>
<p>Dossena becomes the fourth Italian in the squad as Paolo Di Canio looks to put his own stamp on the Sunderland side he inherited from Martin O'Neill at the back end of last season.</p>
<p>Now then, is Dossena good enough for us? Without wanting to sound to arrogant about the situation the overwhelming feeling is that he isn't after a disappointing spell with Liverpool before signing up with Napoli.</p>
<p>He's certainly attacking, however he's also rather suspect defensively which his a major worry. At the age of 32 there's also little chance that can be coached out of him.</p>
<p>Dossena certainly appears to be little more than a stop-gap signing for us, but at least he actually is a left-back. It's no secret that the club have been trying all summer to get someone in and with them hitting a dead end at every turn, desperation has obviously kicked in.</p>
<p>The position may well still be Jack Colback's to lose, with Dossena merely competition and cover for the local lad, who knows at this stage? All that we do know is there's going to be a hell of a lot of squinting and hoping whenever an attack comes down the left hand side with Dossena in the side.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/9/2/4687310/confirmed-dossena-signs-for-sunderlandSimonWalsh2013-09-02T22:05:24+01:002013-09-02T22:05:24+01:00Confirmed: Borini Signs On Loan
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<figcaption>Ian MacNicol</figcaption>
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<p>Fabio Borini has finally signed his season-long loan deal from Liverpool.</p> <p>Liverpool's 22-year old Italian forward Fabio Borini has finally completed his move to Sunderland after spending all day on Wearside.</p>
<p>The move seemed to be initiated on Sunday night ahead of today's transfer window deadline, and now he has finally signed a season-long loan deal from the Merseysiders.</p>
<p>Borini comes with reasonable pedigree having signed from Roma last season for a fee reported to be in excess of £10m, although his first season at Anfield was blighted by injury which lead to him only making 20 appearances for the club, netting 2 goals.</p>
<p>He was also used in a slightly out-of-favour for him wide position to accommodate Luis Suarez and later Daniel Sturridge into the lineup.</p>
<p>Borini is still a highly-regarded talent though, and should be able to provide a good level of competition among our strikers, and will likely immediately jump ahead of Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-Won in the queue to start alongside Steven Fletcher and Jozy Altidore.</p>
<p>It's understood too that there is a recall clause that Liverpool could choose to use in January, as well as there being no deal in place to buy should things turn out well.</p>
<p>It's far from a superstar or ideal signing, but certainly not a bad one either.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/9/2/4687230/confirmed-borini-signs-on-loanSimonWalsh2013-09-02T19:59:53+01:002013-09-02T19:59:53+01:00Reports: Sigurdsson Rumours "Internet Nonsense"
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<p>It appears that as we ourselves said not too long ago, that rumours of a move for Gylfi Sigurdsson are, according to Sky Tyne & Wear, "Internet nonsense" and there's indeed nothing in it.</p>
<p>The news comes as they claim to have spoken to someone at the club who makes this claim, and it tallies well with what we've been saying on Twitter and on this site today that after Andrea Dossena and Fabio Borini, our work is done.</p>
<p>It's a bit of a shame as Sigurdsson would have been a very decent signing to link the midfield and attack together, and will likely find himself surplus to requirements at Spurs having seen a raft of expensive rivals come in to take the spot he occupies for the Londoners.</p>
<p>We'll wait and see obviously if there are any further surprises tonight, but it is incredibly unlikely. Unless of course Sky Tyne & Wear accidently rang pint-sized drum-goblin Phil Collins to ask what was going on. What were they talking Phil?</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3146569/brass-eye-2.JPG"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3146569/brass-eye-2_medium.JPG" class="photo" alt="Brass-eye-2_medium"></a></p>
<p><i>Yes, the transfer window is taking it's toll now.</i></p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/9/2/4687012/reports-sigurdsson-rumours-internet-nonsenseSimonWalsh2013-09-02T19:28:00+01:002013-09-02T19:28:00+01:00Sigurdsson Linked With Sunderland Move
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<p>With Stephane Sessegnon's departure expected at some point this evening, Colin Young of the Daily Mail has linked The Black Cats with a move for Tottenham's Gylfi Sigurdsson as a replacement.</p>
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<p>As Stephane Sessegnon nears the exit door, Paolo Di Canio is looking to bring in Spurs' Gylfi Sigurdsson.<span> </span>The much-travelled Icelandic midfielder was AVB's first Spurs signing but could now be allowed to leave on loan for a season.<span> </span>The 23-year-old has played at Reading and Hoffenheim and fits the bill as the creative midfielder Di Canio wants, especially if Sessegnon joins West Brom.</p>
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<p>The first thing that makes us doubt this one is that Young talks up a possible loan move. However, as has been well documented today, Premier League clubs are only allowed two loan players from another domestic at a time. Sunderland have already signed Swansea's Ki on a one year loan deal, and the other is expected to be taken up by the imminent arrival of Fabio Borini from Liverpool.</p>
<p>This would mean the only way Sigurdsson could join Sunderland is through a permanent deal which, given the fee he'd likely demand, and given the way of our business this late in the transfer window, would be extremely unlikely. While I'd very much like to be proven wrong, given Sigurdsson can provide the creativity we've lacked so far this season, you'd have to file this one under 'not a cat in hell's chance'.</p>
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https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/9/2/4686860/sigurdsson-linked-with-sunderland-moveLuke Bowley2013-09-02T19:14:24+01:002013-09-02T19:14:24+01:00'Borini Passes Medical' Confirms Agent
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<p>Fabio Borini is set to be announced as a Sunderland player within hours, after <a href="https://twitter.com/Sky_PhilForster/status/374569852557479936" target="_blank">Sky Tyne and Wear reported that Borini's agent has confirmed his client has passed a medical</a>. The Liverpool striker will likely be the replacement for the departing Stephane Sessegnon, who looks set to join West Brom.</p>
<p>The Italian will sign a one year loan deal, and all the remains now is for the club to announce the news. It may well be that they won't officially confirm Borini's signing until Andrea Dossena signs up for the Black Cats, so that they can announce the double swoop together. The Napoli left-back's signing on a season long loan is also imminent, with Dossena expected on Wearside for a medical.</p>
<p>Borini struggled for Liverpool last season after a £10.5 million pound move last summer, only scoring 2 goals in 20 appearances in all competition. However, he's still highly regarded by some in Italian football, and it may well be that a run of games is all that is needed to get his career back on track.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/9/2/4686792/borini-passes-medical-confirms-agentLuke Bowley2013-09-02T15:41:44+01:002013-09-02T15:41:44+01:00Sessegnon Nearing The Exit Door
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<p>Stephane Sessegnon's days on Wearside appear to be numbered as the Northern Echo report today that he is in the Midlands to agree personal terms with West Bromwich Albion.</p>
<p>At the moment no deal has been agreed between the clubs, but Sunderland are thought to be seeking a fee in the region of £6m, which would break the Baggies transfer record.</p>
<p>The 29-year old doesn't seem to be able to find a place at Sunderland despite an abundance of talent. His unpredictability covers all areas of his game from whether or not he'll score a world class goal or whether or not he'll even turn up and put in a performance.</p>
<p>It will no doubt be to the fury of many fans that Sess leaves, but perhaps it's for the best that we eventually move on and live and die with the system we're trying to implement. For better or worse.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/9/2/4685886/sessegnon-nearing-the-exit-doorSimonWalsh2013-09-02T13:21:11+01:002013-09-02T13:21:11+01:00No Palace Move For Larsson
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<p>Reports this morning from the Croydon Advertiser suggested that there was word Seb Larsson may make a £4.5m move to Crystal Palace. That appears to have been shot down relatively quickly.</p>
<p>The Independent have reported;</p>
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<p>Seb Larsson's agent says he has heard nothing about an offer from <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23cpfc&src=hash">#cpfc</a> and expects the midfielder to stay at Sunderland</p>
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) <a href="https://twitter.com/ed_aarons/statuses/374500444350849025">September 2, 2013</a>
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<p>Which to be honest always seemed the most likely outcome. £4.5m was a staggering price for Larsson and if it was in the offing he'd surely already be down in London to complete a move.</p>
<p>As it is, Larsson will be battling to start alongside Ki Seung-Yong in the centre of midfield along with a plethora of other options, each more non-descript and poor than the last.</p>
<p>Make up your own jokes about how he should have turned up at Crystal Palace on Saturday/Saturday put them off etc.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/9/2/4685474/no-palace-move-for-larssonSimonWalsh