SUNDERLAND target Radoslav Kovac has opened the door for an approach from Steve Bruce – after his agent confirmed a move to Wearside would interest his client.
The Black Cats are actively in the market for midfield reinforcements and last week sought references for Czech Republic international Kovac (pictured left), who spent the second half of last season at West Ham.
Although Bruce is understood to have other targets in that area, Kovac is a viable option for Sunderland if current club Spartak Moscow are willing to lower their £4m asking price, and the Black Cats are “monitoring” his availability. No official approach has been made yet but word has got back to his advisers, who have made it known that the interest is mutual.
Agent Viktor Kola told The Journal that Kovac, who has 30 caps for the Czech Republic, would be interested in working under Bruce at the Stadium of Light – and reiterated his client’s desire to stay in the Premier League.
“Radoslav would be interested in a move. It would certainly be a solution that he would welcome,” he said. “He knows the history of the club so I believe that from his perspective there would certainly be interest if
Sunderland did make a bid. He realised that he can handle the level of English football and could make an impact in the Premier League. He enjoyed his time in England and ideally wants to come back – if Sunderland made an offer of course he’d be interested.”
Kovac has been included on a long list of Sunderland midfield targets that also includes Didier Zokora, the Spurs midfielder who would also be open to a Stadium of Light switch.
The Black Cats are also understood to have been offered former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira last week – but opted not to follow it up. The veteran Inter Milan star is now in talks with Paris-Saint Germain. Any move for Kovac, who played nine times for the Hammers and looked at home in the Premier League, is likely to depend on how Sunderland fare with their approaches for other targets.
And his agent admits that with the Black Cats not willing to be rushed into making moves in the market, the interest is yet to be formalised.
“We are aware of the rumours but there has been no official approach yet,” he said. “The contract with West Ham has run out so Radoslav will return to pre-season training with Spartak Moscow if nothing else happens. But England would be his preferred place to play.” Interest in Kovac and Zokora would suggest that Bruce is looking to sign a holding midfielder to compete with Teemu Tainio. The Finland midfielder was excellent in spells last season but did little to shake off his tag as injury-prone, playing only 16 times for the Black Cats during his first season on Wearside.
Zokora can play in defence as well as in midfield, but the £10m that Spurs are believed to want for the Ivory Coast international would certainly be a consideration before any move by Sunderland.
“They paid £8m for him and he has improved since then, so they are certainly looking in double figures (in millions), that’s what I have been told by Spurs,” his agent Rachel Anderson said. “They are looking for double figures and, with the interest that’s around, they will probably get it. There are very few players who play in his position as well as he does.”
There is interest from Spain in Zokora but a move to the North East would be welcome. “Didier would like to stay in the Premier League and it would we quite a new challenge, coming straight from France to London then to go to the North East,” Anderson said.
“That would be a different challenge and with the passion you get around Sunderland, a great experience for any player.
“I would be surprised if he didn’t look on it favourably, but that rather depends on the clubs involved.”