Løvenkrands eyes move to Wearside

Jun 27 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

PETER Løvenkrands has responded to the lack of progress on a new contract at Newcastle United by revealing he is interested in a move to Sunderland.

Løvenkrands had initially hoped he would be offered a new deal at St James’s Park, but he is not thought to have been on the list of players Alan Shearer wanted to keep. That was before the costly delay in Shearer’s appointment as permanent manager and Løvenkrands, who only signed a six-month contract with the Magpies in January when Joe Kinnear was manager, does not have much hope of anything being resolved.

Newcastle’s players will return for the start of pre-season training on Wednesday, although Løvenkrands will not be able to join them as he will no longer be contracted to the club.

As a result, the Danish international has started to look for another English employer and has focused his intention on the Black Cats as he is keen to stay in the North East.

He said: “Sunderland is certainly an interesting club. The city is near Newcastle, where we have settled fine, and it would be attractive to stay in northern England. I would not mind to continue to play in England and particularly in the Premier League.”

Whether Sunderland have genuine interest in signing a player who, like Michael Owen and Mark Viduka, will be a free agent next week, remains to be seen, although he could represent a bargain for somebody. Although the

29-year-old failed to establish himself as a first-choice striker during his time on Tyneside, he scored three goals in 12 games for the Magpies and showed glimpses of the talent which made him a big hit at Glasgow Rangers.