Sunderland send Ricky Sbragia to search for Dutch talent

Apr 23 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

SUNDERLAND are ready to go Dutch this summer after dispatching Ricky Sbragia to check out the best emerging talent in the Eredivisie.

The Black Cats have deployed chief scout Sbragia to Holland and coach Ian Atkins to Belgium in a bid to trawl the Low Countries for potential summer targets, with Sunderland understood to be training their attentions on financially-stricken title contenders AZ Alkmaar.

AZ are trailing Steve McClaren’s FC Twente in the race for the championship but have several star names who will command interest from across the Continent.

The club are known to be on the brink of a Portsmouth-style financial collapse and will be willing to accept reasonable offers for most of their star names – a situation that Sunderland may look to take advantage of.

The Journal understands Sbragia has recommended striker Jeremain Lens, recently linked with PSV and Wolves, AZ club captain Stijn Schaars and Mexico centre-back Hector Moreno as potential summer targets.

Sbragia’s intensive scouting of AZ has seen him take in several games – as well as running the rule over Ajax star Luis Suarez.

The Uruguay forward is an ambitious target for the Black Cats, having been linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United.

But Sunderland have plenty of cash to spend and know that makes them a rarity in a depressed transfer market.

The Journal also understands that Sunderland are considering a bid for Standard Liege left-back Sébastien Pocognoli, a 22-year-old attacking wing-back who has made four appearances for the Belgian national side.

Pocognoli, who left AZ in January for his home country, impressed for Liege in their Europa Cup campaign and although he is not a priority target for boss Steve Bruce, he is on a long list of targets.