Sunderland yet to make a bid for Guy Demel

Jan 19 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DESPITE hoping to tie up their first signing of the January transfer window in the coming days, Sunderland are yet to make a bid for defensive target Guy Demel.

Steve Bruce declared at the weekend he was close to making his first signing of 2010 but Demel’s club, Hamburg, do not expect it to be the Ivory Coast international.

The 28-year-old is top of the Black Cats’ list of potential right-back targets. But with Demel currently in Angola for the African Cup of Nations, their interest is yet to produce a cash offer, according to Hamburg chairman Bernd Hoffmann. “It has been in the news that there is an interest of a club from England in the services of Guy Demel,” he said.

“There has, however, not been any bid for him coming in. Looking at the current facts, Guy Demel is still part of our Bundesliga squad.”

Demel’s contract expires in the summer, and the German club are likely to do business for a player who is rated in the £5m bracket.

Despite their current defensive crisis, however, Sunderland need not rush to buy. Demel will not be available until his country are knocked out of the African Nations – and the Elephants are one of the favourites.