Sbragia planning a £10m swoop for Cardiff City pair
May 8 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
SUNDERLAND are weighing up a £10m double swoop for Cardiff City pair Ross McCormack and Roger Johnson – if Ricky Sbragia survives into the summer months.
While the Black Cats boss is under intense pressure to keep the club in the top flight, that has not stopped planning for next season beginning in earnest.
Even though Sbragia’s future is clouded in uncertainty – not least because he has his own doubts about whether to carry on – he has already discussed possible summer targets with chairman Niall Quinn.
They envisage a complete overhaul of the club’s transfer policy as they look to reinvigorate the club with younger, hungrier players and move away from Roy Keane’s flawed approach of signing talented but temperamental top flight names.
Moves for defender Johnson and forward McCormack would fit in with that policy, and also square with the club’s desire to sign British-based players who will appreciate in value.
Sunderland scouts watched Cardiff’s capitulation at Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday and have carried out regular checks on the Bluebirds since the turn of the year.
Reports have credited Sbragia with an interest in Johnson but the Journal understands that 22-year-old McCormack, who finished the club’s top scorer with 23 goals, is actually their priority target.
Sunderland have been quoted a valuation of £5m for either player but with Cardiff set to sign Michael Chopra in the summer, they may have room to negotiate with chairman Peter Ridsdale.
Whether it is Sbragia or another manager who is in a position to oversee Sunderland’s recruitment is open to debate.
But whether he is given the green light to continue or not, changes are afoot in the club’s scouting network.
Both the manager, chairman Quinn and chief scout Mick Brown are determined to follow a ‘buy British’ policy in the long-term and reprise the club’s ability to unearth rough diamonds like Danny Collins, who has just scooped the supporters’ player of the year trophy for the second year running.
Collins was signed by former boss Mick McCarthy, who visited Sbragia last week to offer his advice to the ailing Black Cats boss.
Sbragia is also close to Sunderland’s former chief scout Dave Bowman, who has enjoyed consistent success plumbing the lower divisions for undiscovered talent.
“Mick McCarthy was here the other day,” Sbragia revealed.
“He was up this way and he came in for a coffee and a chat and I had a chat with him about management about how well he's done at Wolves. I had chats and said maybe I got this wrong and what do you think of this? I try to be my best, and that's all I can do.”
As Sbragia looks to supplement his squad in the summer, he has suffered a blow with the news that Craig Gordon will play no further part this season.
The Scotland goalkeeper will undergo an exploratory operation on Saturday to assess the extent of the damage suffered to his knee – ending a frustrating campaign.
“I’m going to have it done on Saturday and hopefully that can sort out the problem, as it’s been a frustrating time for me,” he said.
“There’s only three weeks of the season left so obviously that’s the end of my campaign. There’ll be a period of rest and recovery and then I’ll start my rehab.
“I’m aiming to back flying for pre-season training. Hopefully I’ll have a couple of weeks to recharge my batteries over the summer and everything will be OK.
“It’s been a difficult season for me in terms of injuries, I’ve never had this before in my career. It’s been really frustrating as I’ve been out for such a long time, then to come back and get injured again after three games. But I’ve just got to write this season off and look to get back fully fit for the new campaign.”
