Wallace leads the Black Cats exodus

Jan 7 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

SUNDERLAND have struck a deal with Preston North End which will see Ross Wallace stay at Deepdale until the end of the season – effectively ending the Scottish winger’s Black Cats career.

Wallace’s Black Cats departure is expected to lead a January exodus as boss Ricky Sbragia prunes a squad that numbers a staggering 51 players.

The deal is yet to be inked but a source close to the player has told The Journal that the two clubs agreed the terms of a loan which will take Wallace up until the end of his contract with Sunderland earlier this week.

The move will suit both the player and Preston, whose manager Alan Irvine said over Christmas that he was keen to tie Wallace down to a long-term deal.

Sunderland had hoped for a permanent deal which would reap some extra cash to spend in the transfer window but Wallace appears to have opted for a loan move to keep his options open at the end of the campaign.

Although the former Celtic midfielder has professed himself to be happy with life at Deepdale, the Lilywhites were not the only club interested in signing him and more good performances during the second half of the season will increase demand for the 23-year-old.

The club are also considering negotiating a settlement with midfielder Graham Kavanagh so that he can sign a long-term deal with Carlisle United

during the transfer window. His contract is also up at the end of the campaign.

But while Sbragia looks to shift players deemed surplus to requirements, he must also resolve El-Hadji Diouf’s future.

The Senegal international has become frustrated at a perceived lack of first-team opportunities and after claiming interest from Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic, his Black Cats future is far from certain.

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce, who was Diouf’s manager during the most successful period of his career in England at Bolton, has refused to confirm or deny his interest but the winger has been more forthcoming.

Sbragia plans talks with Diouf this week, and although he would prefer to retain his services he will not force him to stay if he indicates a willingness to move back to the North West.

Diouf, for his part, is conflicted. He would like to stay at Sunderland but only with a guarantee that he will get more first-team football in the New Year.

“I’m just waiting to see what happens, but in any case if a deal is to be done it will happen quickly,” he said.

“I know Sam wants to sign me. We have already spoken about it, and he wants me very soon. But for the time being I will let Blackburn and Sunderland discuss the matter. They are in the midst of negotiations, and I will leave them to it.

“I signed a four-year contract with Sunderland, and I don’t want to leave them on bad terms.

“I hope they will be able to find a solution.”

Kenwyne Jones has also been linked with a move away from Wearside, with Aston Villa showing an interest in the Trinidad & Tobago striker.

But Villa’s priority target is Emile Heskey, and Martin O’Neill would have to raise far more than the quoted fee of £5m for Sunderland to listen to any offer.

The club have once again been linked with Wigan defender Paul Scharner, while the agent of Marseille midfielder Modeste M’Bami has claimed the club have expressed an interested in signing his client.

“I can confirm that Sunderland are highly interested in signing Modeste. There is another Premier League club that is interested as well, Portsmouth,” Jean-Christophe Thouvenel said.

“Modeste is good mate with (Djibril) Cissé so that could accelerate his integration within the team.

“But you know he doesn’t need anyone to settle in. Cissé may have realised his team needs a holding midfielder capable of playing in front of the defence to make it more solid.”

SUNDERLAND’S reserve game at Liverpool last night was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Neil Bailey’s side were due to play the Reds at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Cheshire. But after a pitch inspection at 10.30am yesterday morning, the game was postponed.