This weeks transfer gossip

It’s nearly pre-season again and the rumors are flying everywhere regarding summer transfers. Here’s a look at who the national and regional press have rumored Sunderland with this week.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy

The People claim that Sunderland are battling it out with Stoke City for the signing of Dutch Veteran Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker is out of contract in the summer with current club Hamburg and Steve Bruce is said to be interested in adding him to his strike force.

Darron Gibson

The Manchester United midfielder was this week slated by his own fans on Twitter about his disappointing performances this season. The press have suggested that Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to offload the Irishman, with Sunderland rumoured to be interested.

Jonathan De Guzman

Spanish newspaper Marca suggest that Sunderland are one of a few clubs interested in signing Mallorca forward Jonathan De Guzman. The Canadian has spent most of his career with Feyenoord since moving to Holland at a young age and could fit the attacking gap at Sunderland.

Anthony Ujah

Tribal Football suggest that Nigerian striker Anthony Ujah could be making a move to the Stadium Of Light. The 20 year old, who plays for Norwegian side Lillestrom has scored 21 goals in 29 appearances this season.

Sebastian Larsson

The Birmingham City right back is a player that has been linked with a move to Wearside ever since Steve Bruce arrived at Sunderland. and with the Swede out of contract at the end of the season, Sunderland face a battle with arch rivals Newcastle for the former Arsenal man’s signature.

Darren Pratley

Swansea City midfielder Darren Pratley is another player out of contract in July and is said to be being chased by Sunderland, along with other Premier League clubs.

Julio Arca

Sunderland legend Julio Arca is also out of contract with rivals Middlesbrough this summer and could make a sensational return to the red and white stripes after leaving for Teesside in 2006.

Sunderland v Wigan Athletic preview

Free-falling Sunderland entertain Wigan at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland will be looking to end their dismal run with a home win over fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic at the Stadium Of Light on Saturday (3pm K.O.)

Steve Bruce will be looking to bag all three points from his former club and pick up their first win in 9 games, a streak stretching back to the end of January.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez seen his side climb out of the bottom three last week with a 3-1 win over Blackpool and the Latics are hoping to make it two wins on the bounce.

Team News

The Black Cats are without a number of first team players, including Titus Bramble (knee) and John Mensah (adductor tear) Fraizer Campbell and Craig Gordon will both face lengthy spells on the sidelines after both going under the knife for knee injuries.

Danny Welbeck (hamstring) and Kieran Richardson (calf) will be last minute decisions for Bruce.

Goalkeeper Trevor Carson has been recalled from his loan spell at Brentford as cover for Simon Mignolet.

Wigan have an injury free squad, but see Maynor Figueroa serve his second of a two game ban after collecting 10 yellow cards.

Prediction

Many reckon that this game has a draw written all over it, and perhaps even a Wigan win after their win over Blackpool and Sunderland’s win-less streak. But the Black Cats need to get a win from somewhere and where better than a home win over the Latics

Sunderland 2 – Wigan 1

Bruce ponders striking options

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has admitted that his side face a “massive” two week survival battle, and to make things worse, he only has one senior striker available.

Danny Welbeck may miss the clash with Wigan on Saturday with a hamstring injury. And with Fraizer Campbell potentially out for another 6 months, Asamoah Gyan will be leading the front line alone for the Black Cats.

However, Bruce has stated his admiration for young striker Ryan Noble. Noble made his second substitute appearance of the season last Saturday in the defeat at Birmingham, and Bruce believes the 19 year old could save him some money this summer.

Bruce has admitted that he needs two or three strikers this summer to fill the boots of Darren Bent, Fraizer Campbell and probably Danny Welbeck, who is likely to return to parent club Manchester United.

One name that has popped up in the tabloid gossip columns a lot this week is Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Kevin Doyle. Wolves are favourites to be relegated this season and the Republic of Ireland striker won’t be wanting to play Championship football next season.

Bruce is also looking to bring in a new centre back and a new centre midfielder as he looks to offload injury prone John Mensah and flop Sulley Muntari.

It’s took three months for Bruce and even the Sunderland fan’s to admit that the squad is missing Darren Bent dramatically, and with only 9 goals scored since his departure, is the sale to Aston Villa costing their season?

Stewart calls it a day

Former Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart has hung his boots up following a very illustrious career.

Exeter’s away fixture at Bristol Rovers, the club Stewart started out at, was his final appearance of a phenomenal 19 year career.

Both sets of fans gave Stewart a well deserved standing ovation and guard of honour at full time as he left the pitch for the final time at the Memorial Stadium.

Stewart signed for Sunderland in 2002 on the same day as the then record signing Tore Andre Flo for over £3 million, and proved to be a more influential player than the big Norwegian.

Stewart bagged 31 goals in 102 appearances in his time at the Stadium Of Light, most of them coming in The Championship winning season under Mick McCarthy. This adds to his tally of 254 goals in 783 games across eight clubs.

His time at Ipswich Town will without a doubt be his biggest playing stint. Stewart helped fire the Tractor Boys into the Premiership and then earn them an unbelievable fifth place finish in their first season in the big time. Stewart finished second top scorer with 19 goals and the club also made it into the UEFA cup, but suffered relegation in their second season.

The striker then made the move to Wearside, where he is remembered by many for the goal he scored away at Wigan in the opening five minutes to send Sunderland to the top of the Championship.

He is also regarded as one of the ‘Mr Nice Guys’ of football, and humbly chose to leave the club following their promotion in 2005 as he felt he wasn’t a Premiership player.

“There are six games to go and I’m not fighting for a contract next season so I’m better off giving someone else a chance whether that’s a young lad or someone whose contract is up,” he said before the curtain closer.

“I am proud of my career and I am going out not chasing anything, I’m not chasing another title or another goal.”

Huddersfield Town, Ipswich, Bristol Rovers and of course Sunderland will regard Stewart as a legend as his magnificent playing career comes to a close.

Now aged 38, Stewart has been a delight to play with for many across the 8 clubs that have been proud to have him as a player. And this isn’t the end of his career in football, Stewart will stay on at the real St James Park until the end of the season to train as a coach, and hopefully pass on his bags of experience onto a younger generation.