Cats swoop for Paraguay star Da Silva

Jul 6 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

STEVE Bruce's first signing as Sunderland manager is set to be a 29-year-old free agent from Paraguay when Paulo Da Silva arrives on Wearside this week.

Bruce has targeted – and continues to pursue – a host of high-profile Premier League footballers as he tries to spend the biggest transfer budget he has ever been handed. But he has enjoyed great success in recent years by exploiting his contacts in central and southern America. On Saturday, Da Silva said his goodbyes to Mexican club Deportivo Toluca, where he has spent the last six seasons, before heading to England.

“First of all I want to thank Deportivo Toluca for the effort they made and for giving me the opportunity to fulfil a dream, which is playing in Europe,” said Da Silva, whose contract has expired. “It is certainly an important step in my football career and I am very grateful to everyone.

“It will be a challenge to play in England, it is a very competitive league and one of the best in the world, so it is very important I adapt as soon as possible.”

While Da Silva refused to name his destination, it is understood to be Wearside.

The diminutive central defender has 61 senior international caps, one of which was earned at the 2006 World Cup, although he was only a substitute against Trinidad and Tobago and did not play in the 1-0 defeat to England.

Bruce and chairman Niall Quinn are anxious to add leaders to a squad which has sorely lacked them in recent years, and Da Silva was Toluca’s captain for the past two seasons. He was named in South America’s team of the year in 2007.