Wigan tell Bruce: Hands off Lee Cattermole
Jun 20 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
The Latics underwent a major clearout in January and with Scharner and Luis Antonio Valencia set to leave imminently, Martinez is very conscious of the threadbare nature of the squad he has inherited, and will resist any attempts to weaken it further.
“We are a little light in numbers,” the Spaniard commented as he unveiled Gomez. Having only made his £3.5m move from Boro a year ago, Cattermole is under contract until 2011 but in reality much may depend on the strength of the 21-year-old’s desire to return north.
Cattermole is not the only player Wigan might have to keep out of Sunderland’s clutches, with Bruce considering a reunion with Titus Bramble.
The former Newcastle man is only one of the central defenders Bruce is looking at as a potential partner for the talented but inexperienced Anton Ferdinand, and Bramble’s chances of a move he craves may depend on the Manchester City money men.
Sunderland had been confident of signing Republic of Ireland international Richard Dunne, but conflicting messages from Eastlands have muddied the waters. Initially there was a suggestion City would thin down a squad which will not be competing in Europe next term, but now some are suggesting the opposite may be the case.
Dunne is City’s captain and has won their player of the year award a record four times.
But Mark Hughes seems intent on replacing him, with Everton’s Joleon Lescott high on his list of targets.
Sylvain Distin and Sebastien Bassong – the former another ex-Magpies defender, the latter soon to be – are also options, with Bruce ready to exploit the uncertainty at Portsmouth and Newcastle to spend some of his generous transfer budget.
Another long-standing Sunderland target has been told he can leave Reading, though whether Bruce shares Roy Keane’s admiration for Stephen Hunt remains to be seen.
The Black Cats had a series of bids for the feisty winger rebuffed in January 2008, but after the Royals failed to earn an instant return to the Premier League, new manager Brendan Rogers is prepared to let him go.
Meanwhile, Ipswich Town have been linked with yet another Sunderland player, this time 18-year-old Conor Hourihane.
It has been suggested Keane could use his friendship with Bruce to try to sign his fellow Corkman on a season-long loan.
