Campbell in but Cats’ Lee bid foiled
Jul 11 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
SUNDERLAND have made England under- 21 striker Frazier Campbell their first signing of the summer – but the club will have to up the stakes significantly to get his international team-mate Lee Cattermole.
After a slow start to a potentially pivotal summer for the Black Cats, their recruitment drive is finally gathering pace – with boss Steve Bruce sanctioning a clutch of bids that would take Sunderland’s spending over the £40m pound mark if all were to prove successful.
The new manager’s first bit of business was to nick Manchester United striker Campbell from under the noses of Hull City, who had been waiting for a decision from the 21-year-old since having a £6m offer accepted a month ago.
Newcastle were also interested in the forward but the delay in appointing a new manager effectively ruled them out of the running. That deal has been concluded relatively swiftly but there is no prospect of a similarly smooth transaction for Cattermole after Wigan rejected their initial offer for the tenacious midfielder. Former Wigan boss Bruce is desperate to add the former Middlesbrough man to his squad and made an initial bid of around £6m yesterday in an effort to ward off interest from Liverpool – who see the 21-year-old as a possible replacement for Javier Mascherano.
But Wigan rejected the bid within an hour and boss Roberto Martinez issued a strongly worded statement through the
Latics’ website, insisting that the player is not for sale at any price.
It called for an end for speculation surrounding the player but it is unlikely to spell an end to Sunderland’s interest. They will return with a higher bid next week but are aware that much depends on how much Cattermole wants to sign
for the club. "Lee is not for sale. End of story," Martinez said yesterday afternoon.
"He is fantastic player, a leader on and off the field, and he is central to our plans going forwards. We are not interested in selling him, which is why this offer was rejected immediately.
