There seems to be a lot more transparency about Sunderland’s dabblings in the transfer market this summer.
Simon Mignolet’s departure was on the cards for a week or more before Liverpool finally signed him and we even had a chance to laugh at his preposterous agent Kristof Vandersmissen’s protestations that Anfield was not even involved in talks to buy him.
And in the last half-hour, the Northern Echo had this to say about the probable capture of the USA striker Jozy Altidore:
“Di Canio is keen to work in pre-season with only the players he wants to rely on next season and is hoping American striker Altidore will fly out to Italy in the next 24 hours.
Altidore, 23, was on Wearside yesterday to undergo a medical and discuss his contract demands ahead of a £6m switch from AZ Alkmaar. A deal will go through today.
He will then head out to join his new team-mates in Peschiera Del Garda for the next nine days, where Di Canio could still have further new additions joining him before they fly back to the North-East.”