Cats swoop for Paraguay star Da Silva

Jul 6 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

As well as Mexico and his homeland, the 5ft 11in defender has played in Italy, for Perugia, Venezia and Cosenza, and Argentina, with Lanus. Although most of his career has been spent in the heart of the defence, he has made very occasional appearances in both full-back positions.

Bruce is also pursuing other targets and his wheeling and dealing for strikers could cast doubt over Kenwyne Jones’ Sunderland future.

The Wearsiders thought they had secured Jones’ long-term future when they persuaded the centre-forward to sign a new four-and-a-half-year contract in January. But a change of manager and the Black Cats’ renewed interest in Darren Bent has encouraged Harry Redknapp to try for a second time this year to bring Jones to Tottenham Hotspur.

Sunderland have been given permission to talk to Bent about a move but no fee has been agreed. Tottenham are therefore expected to suggest Jones be part of the deal. And Bruce could be open to the suggestion if he succeeds in landing Peter Crouch from Portsmouth.

Crouch is available for around £14m after going public over his frustration with the confusion surrounding Pompey. The south coast club are in the throes of a buy-out by Saudi Arabian businessman Sulaiman Al-Fahim but since apparently being agreed in May, the takeover is yet to be completed and has been accompanied by media speculation its probity and the source and availability of funds. The result has been to delay the appointment of a new manager.

The arrival of one dominant targetman would inevitably cast doubt over the future of another, and Jones did not sign his massive new contract to be a reserve.

So if a deal for Crouch can be agreed first, Bruce may be open to doing business with Spurs over Jones.

Sunderland were furious at what they saw as Redknapp’s deliberate attempt to attempt to unsettle Jones in January, but it did not stop the busy flow of players between North London and Wearside in recent years.

While the controversy was still brewing, Pascal Chimbonda rejoined Tottenham from Sunderland six months after moving in the opposite direction.