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In the end zone - in the six

Sunderland sign £6.5m Emanuele Giaccherini from Juventus

Sunderland have signed Italy international Emanuele Giaccherini from Juventus for £6.5m.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who has made 14 appearances for Italy, has agreed a four-year contract.
He played at Euro 2012 and this summer's Confederations Cup, when he scored in a 4-2 defeat by Brazil.
Giaccherini signed for Juventus in August 2011 and made 40 appearances in helping the Turin club to back-to-back Serie A titles.
After starting his career at Cesena, he had loan spells at Forli, Bellaria and Pavia before joining Juventus.
Giaccherini has also scored the fastest ever goal in the history of Italy's national side, netting after 19 seconds in a friendly against Haiti in June.
Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has already signed El Hadji Ba, Jozy Altidore, David Moberg Karlsson, Cabral, Modibo Diakite, Valentin Roberge and Vito Mannone this summer.

Sunderland striker Danny Graham is on his way to Hull to negotiate a season-long loan at the KC Stadium.

Hull boss Steve Bruce has targeted the former Swansea striker after the collapse of Charlie Austin’s move from Burnley last week.

Graham, who failed to score in 13 games for Sunderland after a £5million move from South Wales last season, has returned from Paolo Di Canio’s training camp in Italy and he has been withdrawn from the Sunderland squad due to fly out to Hong Kong. He is expected to meet Bruce in East Yorkshire.

Bruce is hoping to secure a year-long loan deal for Graham, 27, who was facing fresh competition for a place on Wearside following Jozy Altidore’s move from AZ Alkmaar.

Hull are hoping Bruce’s former club will agree to paying a portion of Graham’s wages to allow a loan deal to go through.

Although Norwich City manager Chris Hughton was in the running for the player's signature in January, Bruce is expected to have a free run on the Gateshead-born forward.

Saints Under 21's lucky to get draw at Sunderland

Saints Northeast pre-season games continued with Sunderland a goalless draw. In a game where defences held sway chances were few and far between.

Martin Hunter made a few changes to the team as he rotated the squad. Joe Curtis, Ryan Seager and goalkeeper Cody Cropper all coming into the side

The opening half hour was comfortable for Saints but Sunderland upped their game for the final fifteen minutes. Saints did well to weather the storm.

Saints were again fairly comfortable in the second half mostly but were unable to make many clear cut chances. The best opportunity for Saints arrived late on through substitute Jamal Branker, but he was denied by a strong save.

Martin Hunter said he was pleased with the team's defending but disappointed that we were unable to find the ball to set up a strike on goal.

All in all a good work-out for the team as they continue to prepare for the season ahead.

SPANISH striker David Mayoral was one of six trialists on show for Sunderland Under-18s yesterday as they opened their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over Gateshead.

Half-time substitute Mayoral grabbed the winning goal, as the 16-year-old looks to earn a contract at the Academy of Light.

Mayoral, on the fringes of the Spain U17 squad, has attracted contract offers from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo in his homeland, while Celtic and Nottingham Forest have also been interested.

Rees Greenwood was also on the scoresheet for the Black Cats, at the Academy of Light.

PAOLO Di Canio says Sunderland’s pre-season will begin in earnest next week when the Black Cats take part in the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong.

The Sunderland squad are currently coming to the end of a 10-day stay in a secluded training retreat in northern Italy.

That in itself has been a vital part of Di Canio’s preparations, with the head coach focusing on fitness and team bonding.

But he says next week offers the chance for the new recruits and the existing players to finally get to grips with genuinely competitive action.

Sunderland take on Tottenham Hotspur next Wednesday ahead of a finals day at the weekend in the tournament which also involves Manchester City and local side South China FC.

And for Di Canio, it will all be about getting the benefits of competitive football.

“We will keep working so hard and now we play two very important games,” he said.

“The players, especially the new players, can test themselves straight away against one Barclays Premier League side, for sure, in a full stadium.

“It is a chance to feel the real atmosphere.

“Obviously we are not in England, but the passion of the Chinese people will be very high.

“The players can understand also that they will face an opponent they will play during the league season. It will be another very good, important moment.”

The Hong Kong trip coming so quickly on top of the Italian training camp means the players will have been living in each other’s pockets for weeks by the time they return to Sunderland.

But Di Canio says that is all part of a plan to create players who are close to each other and know each others’ game inside out.

Once again we are going to live 24 hours per day together,” he said. “During that time we will play two very important games and the players will be looking forward to them.

“They are very important to us because the players will go mad if they run, run, run without playing football!

“Including Italy, we will have spent 20-21 days together, so that will be a crucial moment for us as a squad.”

SUNDERLAND’S summer signings have all been included in the Black Cats squad for next week’s Barclay’s Asia Trophy tournament, in Hong Kong.

But there is no place in the party for out-of-favour Phil Bardsley or recovering duo Steven Fletcher and Lee Cattermole.

Bardsley has played no part in Sunderland’s pre-season preparations after earning Paolo Di Canio’s wrath at the end of last season for a late-night trip to a casino.

Fletcher and Cattermole, meanwhile, continue to make their way back from ankle and knee injuries respectively.

But all seven of Sunderland’s first-team signings will fly out to the Far East - Vito Mannone, Modibo Diakite, Valentin Roberge, El-Hadji Ba, Cabral, David Moberg Karlsson and Jozy Altidore.

Sunderland face Spurs in the tournament’s first game on Wednesday, July 24, before tackling Manchester City or South China FC three days later.

SUNDERLAND SQUAD: Mannone, Pickford, Westwood, Brown, Cuellar, Diakite, Roberge, O’Shea, Ba, Cabral, Colback, Gardner, Johnson, Larsson, McClean, Moberg Karlsson, N’Diaye, Vaughan, Altidore, Graham, Ji, Mandron, Sessegnon, Wickham.

Sunderland 1 - 0 FC Chiasso

Yesterday Sunderland second team out in Italy pulled off a 1-0 win over Swiss side FC Chiasso, with England under 21 international Connor Wickham scoring the winning goal.

Argentina defender Gino Peruzzi has arrived in Sunderland to complete his £5million move to the Premier League.

The Velez Sarsfield full back, who has been a major target for Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio throughout the summer, is poised to become his 10th signing of the close season.

Peruzzi has flown to Wearside with two directors Julio Baldomar and Eduardo Ordonez from the Argentinian club after more than a month of protracted negotiations between the player and the two clubs.
Latest addition: Gino Peruzzi (right) is poised to join Sunderland after jetting in for a medical at the club

Latest addition: Gino Peruzzi (right) is poised to join Sunderland after jetting in for a medical at the club

The 21-year-old right-back will have a medical today and is then expected to join up with the Sunderland squad flying out to Hong Kong for the Barclays Asia Trophy where they will play Tottenham and Manchester City next week.

But his arrival surely spells the end at Sunderland for Scotland international Phil Bardsley, who by contrast has been left in the wilderness by Di Canio since their bust-up at the end of last season.

Former Manchester United defender Bardsley, who was player of the year at the Stadium of Light two seasons ago, was fined and dropped for the final game at Spurs after photographs revealed he had visited a casino in the early hours, prior to the match. He was left out of the senior squad which has been at a training camp in Italy for the last week.
Rebuild: Paolo Di Canio is set to land his tenth signing of the summer with the Argentina defender

Fulham, Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday and Queens Park Rangers have all been linked with the 28-year-old who played in a goalless draw for the Sunderland development squad against Southampton yesterday.

Burnley are set to win the race for former Sunderland striker Ryan Noble, Sky Sports understands.

Noble is available on a free transfer after leaving Sunderland earlier this summer.

The 22-year-old failed to establish himself at the Stadium of Light and spent much of his time in recent years out on loan and enjoyed stints with the likes of Watford, Derby and Hartlepool.

A number of clubs are thought to have expressed an interest in Noble, but Burnley are hoping to land the talented forward.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche is keen to add to his attacking options at Turf Moor and the club are thought to be in advanced talks to sign Noble.

Eintracht Frankfurt defender Bastian Oczipka has dismissed reports linking him with a move to Sunderland.

The highly-rated left-back had reportedly emerged as a target for Paolo Di Canio as the Italian continues to look to change things around at the Stadium of Light this summer.

But the overhaul is unlikely to include the 24-year-old Frankfurt player after he indicated he had no interest in the move.

"I have been told about that offer," said Oczipka, quoted in the Offenbach Post.

"Still, this is not an issue for me. I have two more years of my contract with Eintracht Frankfurt.

"Financially, it is a lucrative offer but does not appeal in a sporting sense.

"We are a side going to play in the Europa League this season. Therefore I am not interested in just ticking over at a mid-table team in England."

HULL CITY are hopeful that a loan deal for Sunderland striker Danny Graham will be sealed before the weekend.

Graham was granted permission to leave Sunderland’s pre-season training camp in Italy on Tuesday night, with the Black Cats ready to allow the £5million frontman to join the Tigers on a season-long loan.

The 27-year-old held talks with Hull yesterday and is expected to fly out to the club’s pre-season base in Portugal tomorrow for a medical.

Hull manager and former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce said: “We’re very close and we’re hopeful we can get it done before the weekend.

“It looks as though there’s a deal to be done with Sunderland and that’s now in the hands of our chief executive.

“All the talks have been encouraging but we’ll have to wait and see now. We hope we can get something done soon.

“As I’ve admitted, he’s a player I like and it would be a big boost to our squad to have someone like Danny join.”

Feyenoord technical director Martin van Geel said the "door is always open" for Guidetti to return to the Eredivisie outfit where he spent the 2011-12 season on loan.

Guidetti became a fans favourite during his time in Rotterdam, scoring 20 goals in just 23 appearances, and now the club have confirmed they would love to bring him back.

John GuidettiJohn Guidetti had a successful spell on loan at Feyenoord

Guidetti is in our hearts and the door is always open for him
Feyenoord technical director Martin van Geel
Speaking to AD newspaper Van Geel said: "Guidetti is in our hearts and the door is always open for him," he told the AD newspaper.

"If a godsend occurs, we would naturally increase our squad with him.

However, Van Geel went on to say that Feyenoord have yet to make a bid for the striker.

He added: "I would like to say clearly that no concrete efforts have been made to get him."

Feyenoord technical director Martin van GeelFeyenoord technical director Martin van Geel says the door is open for John Guidetti to return

Guidetti joined City as a highly rated teenager from IF Brommapojkarna in 2008 but has been loaned out several times and is yet to make a first team appearance for City.

John GuidettiJohn Guidetti is yet to feature at Manchester City

Now 21, Guidetti is currently away on the City pre-season tour in South Africa but it remains to be seen whether Guidetti features in Manuel Pellegrini's first team plans for next season.

Manuel PellegriniManuel Pellegrini took John Guidetti on Manchester City's pre-season tour

However, Guidetti projects to be behind Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and new signing Alvaro Negredo in the City striking pecking order.

Sergio AgueroSergio Aguero is a first-choice at City

Alvaro NegredoAlvaro Negredo will add further competition for places

And the situation will only worsen if City's reported move for Fiorentina's Steven Jovetic comes to fruition.

Steven JoveticSteven Jovetic may yet be another new face at City

Paolo Di Canio was rumoured to be interested in bringing the Swedish international to Sunderland.

Paolo Di CanioPaolo Di Canio is an admirer of John Guidetti

Sunderland have already added Jozy Altidore to their squad this season but with Danny Graham thought to be on the verge of a loan move to Hull, the Black Cats may still be in the market to add another striker.

Jozy AltidoreJozy Altidore has joined Sunderland

Danny GrahamDanny Graham looks set to join Hull

IPSWICH boss Mick McCarthy is interested in signing former Sunderland defender Titus Bramble, who is a free agent after being released by the Black Cats.

McCarthy originally denied an interest in Bramble, who has spent time training with West Ham.

But the big centre-half has trained with the Tractor Boys and played in their 2-1 friendly win at Gillingham on Tuesday.

Now, ex-Black Cats boss McCarthy could be ready to offer the 31-year-old the chance to return to the club where he began his career.

“I only met up with Titus for the first time at our pre-match meal,” he claimed. “He asked if he could come in for training and wanted to play.

“He’s obviously interested in coming here and we are interested in him, otherwise he wouldn’t be playing for us.

“He’s shown a good commitment to come and play but it’s early days yet. No more than that.”

SUNDERLAND U21s will visit Bishop Auckland’s Heritage Park on Saturday to take on Martin Gray’s Darlington 1883 (3pm).

The Quakers are preparing for life in the EvoStik League after winning the Northern League title last term. Admission is £9 (adults), £6 (concessions) and £4 (children).

Darlo also take on a Middlesbrough XI at Heritage Park on Tuesday (7.30pm).

Newton Aycliffe shocked Darlo with a 3-1 friendly win last night, thanks to goals from Stuart Owen, Michael Gibson and Dan Mellanby. Kerry Hedley replied.

Sunderland midfielder Alfred N'Diaye is a target for several Turkish sides, Sky Sports understands.

N'Diaye only joined Sunderland last January from Bursaspor and his former club and Eskisehirspor are thought to be weighing up moves to bring the player back to Turkey.

The former France Under-21 international was brought to the Stadium of Light by former Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill, but he could find himself surplus to requirements under Paolo Di Canio.

Di Canio has been busy in the transfer market this summer bringing in nine players already with more planned and he could decided to cash-in on N'Diaye.

Eskisehirspor coach Ertugrul Saglam is a big fan of N'Diaye having worked with the 23-year-old during his time in charge of Bursaspor and is keen to be reunited with the midfielder.

Sundeland hope to put there nightmare with DANNY GRAHAM behind them after Graham joining Hull on a season-long loan.

The flop striker admits he couldn’t leave Wearside quick enough after being made surplus to requirements by new Black Cats boss Paolo Di Canio.

And Graham, 27, now wants to prove he has what it takes to be a top Premier League marksman.

The ex-Swansea hitman said: “When the chance came to sign here on loan, I jumped at it.

“I’m delighted. It’s great to come to a club where everybody is on a high after winning promotion and I’ve only heard good things about this club.

“It’s exactly the same as when I joined Swansea a couple of years ago, a club coming up into the Premier League. The stories for the two clubs are very similar.

“I know I’m coming to a good club with a top manager, a fantastic stadium and some very good players.”

Graham was brought to Wearside by Martin O’Neill in a £5million January deal.

But he failed to score in 13 appearances for Sunderland and has become the latest victim of Di Canio’s ruthless clear-out.

Graham flew home early from the Black Cats’ training camp in Italy earlier this week after hearing of Hull’s interest.

And he has already joined Steve Bruce’s Premier League new-boys for their pre-season work-out in Portugal.

Graham added: “I’d spoken to the manager at Sunderland and been told that I wasn’t part of the plans, so when the call came I was straight onto a flight.

“I feel like I live on a plane at the moment!

“But it’s all part and parcel of what it’s all about. It’s all done now and I can look forward.

“Training camps are a chance for players to bond and I don’t want to miss out on that.

“We’ve got a couple of games out here as well, so if everything goes to plan I’m hoping to get involved in those, although the game on Saturday might come too early.”

Graham joins fellow new signings George Boyd, Maynor Figueroa, Curtis Davies, Ahmed Elmohamady, Allan McGregor and Steve Harper at the KC Stadium.

Boss Bruce said: “I have no concerns about Danny. He has scored goals in the Premier League before, and he will do again because he is a quality finisher.

“I am absolutely delighted to have got him here. He can only strengthen our squad and benefit the team going into the new season.

“It has taken some time for us to bring in a striker this summer, so I am glad to finally get this one over the line. Now I’d like another one to go with Danny.”

Argentina defender Gino Peruzzi has arrived in Sunderland to complete his £5million move to the Premier League.

The Velez Sarsfield full back, who has been a major target for Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio throughout the summer, is poised to become his 10th signing of the close season.

Peruzzi has flown to Wearside with two directors Julio Baldomar and Eduardo Ordonez from the Argentinian club after more than a month of protracted negotiations between the player and the two clubs.

Latest addition: Gino Peruzzi (right) is poised to join Sunderland after jetting in for a medical at the club
Latest addition: Gino Peruzzi (right) is poised to join Sunderland after jetting in for a medical at the club

The 21-year-old right-back will have a medical today and is then expected to join up with the Sunderland squad flying out to Hong Kong for the Barclays Asia Trophy where they will play Tottenham and Manchester City next week.

But his arrival surely spells the end at Sunderland for Scotland international Phil Bardsley, who by contrast has been left in the wilderness by Di Canio since their bust-up at the end of last season.

Former Manchester United defender Bardsley, who was player of the year at the Stadium of Light two seasons ago, was fined and dropped for the final game at Spurs after photographs revealed he had visited a casino in the early hours, prior to the match. He was left out of the senior squad which has been at a training camp in Italy for the last week.

Rebuild: Paolo Di Canio is set to land his tenth signing of the summer with the Argentina defender
Rebuild: Paolo Di Canio is set to land his tenth signing of the summer with the Argentina defender

International prowess: Peruzzi has appeared for the Argentina team four times
International prowess: Peruzzi has appeared for the Argentina team four times

Fulham, Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday and Queens Park Rangers have all been linked with the 28-year-old who played in a goalless draw for the Sunderland development squad against Southampton yesterday.

Meanwhile yesterday those out in Italy pulled off a 1-0 win over Swiss side FC Chiasso, with England under 21 international Connor Wickham scoring the winning goal.

New £8.5million winger Emanuele Giaccherini made his Sunderland debut in the game which also featured new signings Valentin Roberge, Cabral, Jozy Altidore, David Moberg Karlsson, Vito Mannone and El-Hadji Ba.

Burnley are poised to sign former Sunderland striker Ryan Noble who is a free agent.

The 22-year-old failed to establish himself at the Stadium of Light and spent time on loan at Watford, Derby and Hartlepool.

The France Under-20 international has only made 13 first-team appearances for Le Havre in his short career, and is excited about the prospect of playing in the Premier League

New Sunderland signing El-Hadji Ba has expressed his delight at making the step up from the French second division to the Premier League.

The France Under-20 international moved to the Stadium of Light on a free transfer from Le Havre in July, having made 13 appearances for the Ligue 2 side after breaking into the first team midway through last season.
 
“It is a very proud moment to be able to call myself a Sunderland player. The Barclays Premier League, for me, is a very big league – the best in the world.

“There are very good players here so I am very happy.”

Since joining up with Paolo Di Canio’s men on their training camp in Italy last week, the 20-year-old has already made a 20-minute cameo in Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly win over Swiss side Chiasso, and admits he is enjoying the experience.

“It is good to be able to get used to my new team-mates straight away, to get to know them and improve my English,” he explained.

“The training camp has been good and we are looking forward to the season. More and more it is good for the team and I am very proud to be here.

“This is a very big club – I am sure I will enjoy it.”

NEWCASTLE LATEST
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12/1    Sunderland are 12/1 with William Hill to finish bottom

FORMER Sunderland star Asamoah Gyan says he has no regrets about turning his back on the English Premier League for a cash-laden move to the UAE.

The 27-year-old Ghanaian striker stunned then Sunderland manager when he left Sunderland for Al Ain on August 31, 2011 – too late for Bruce to replace him in his squad.

That loan move, which was eventually converted into a permanent move, earned him stinging criticism which extended far beyond Wearside with Gyan dubbed a mercenary who put cash over his career.

But the striker, has prospered in more than just monetary ways in the Arab state, helping Al Ain to back-to-back titles as well as winning the Golden Boot for being the league’s top scorer.

And he told reporters in his homeland: “I don’t regret quitting the English Premier League at all.

“I am comfortable and happy there, and most importantly I deliver when I come to the Black Stars.

“My decision to move to the Arab world bordered on my family and what was good for me and not what people said or will say.

“Some people listen to friends in taking critical decisions and they mess up in the end.

“I scored 22 goals during my first season and improved to 31 in last season’s league and that is a great mark.

According to the Daily Mail, Paolo Di Canio is considering a move for midfielder Raul Meireles, 30, who is unsettled at Fenerbahce.

However, one of Sunderland’s midfielders is being watched by Italian gianst Lazio.

Radio station talkSPORT say that Lazio are keen on Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson, 28, who only has a year left on his current deal.

The former Chelsea player is attracting interest from both Sunderland and Fulham this summer, what could he bring to either side?

After an eventful debut season at Fenerbahce, Raul Meireles could be on his way back to the Premier League, with both Sunderland and Fulham considering a move for the 30-year-old.

The midfielder made 16 league appearances for the Turkish side following his £8million move from Chelsea, but his season was more notable for the games he missed than those he played.

Meireles was banned for 11 matches, later reduced to four, early in the year for alledgedly making gestures towards a referee, before picking up another four game ban later in the season for allegedly making another offensive gesture, this time towards a Galatasaray player.

However the Portuguese is still a good player, and with Premier League experience at both Liverpool and Chelsea under his belt, he could be a canny addition for either Sunderland or Fulham this summer.

Sunderland have been very active in the transfer window already, with Italian international Emanuele Giaccherini the latest player to join Paolo Di Canio’s side. Jozy Altidore and Modibo Diakite are perhaps the other stand out pieces of business, with Di Canio keen to overhaul his squad and stay well clear of the relegation zone next season.

Fulham too have made some impressive early moves, with Maarten Stekelenburg and Fernando Amorebieta the picks of their incomings. Martin Jol is keen to add some a central midfielder, and along with Meireles, Tom Huddlestone has been linked with a move to Craven Cottage.

Sunderland are also reportedly considering the Spurs midfielder, and it could be the case that whoever signs Meireles will duck out of the race for Huddlestone.

Assuming Meireles does not exhibit the kind of behaviour that earned him his suspensions in Turkey he would be a fine signing for either Premier League side this summer. The midfielder has a wealth of experience playing at the highest level, and is adaptable enough to fit in any formation Jol or Di Canio is planning to use.

The agent of Lorenzo Insigne has revealed that Sunderland tried to tempt his client away from Napoli.

The Partenopei striker started just 16 times last season, but is expected to step up to the plate this term following the departure of Edinson Cavani.

And the 22-year-old's representative has claimed that the forward will be staying at Stadio San Paolo, despite a move from Paolo Di Canio's men.

“We met with the company to discuss Insigne,” Fabio Andreotti told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“Benitez has ensured us that there is a role for Lorenzo. He likes quality players.

“There was an offer from Sunderland before they made a move for [Juventus' Emanuele] Giaccherini, but Napoli said he was not for sale.”

Buy Serie A tickets on Viagogo, the secure ticket marketplace, for games featuring Juventus, Milan, Inter, Roma and more.

BRAZILIAN midfielder Daniel Bessa has revealed he turned down Sunderland to join Portuguese side Olhanense.

Inter Milan had been prepared to allow the attacking midfielder to move to Wearside on loan.

But the 20-year-old has decided to leave Italy for a stint in the Portuguese league instead.

“I had an offer from Sunderland but that wasn’t the football I wanted,” he told Maisfutebol.

“I watch the Portuguese league and it’s fast and technical.”

Sunderland have made an offer for highly-rated Napoli striker Lorenzo Insigne, according to the player’s agent.

Black Cats manager Paolo Di Canio is on the lookout for another striker after loaning Danny Graham to Hull City this week, and is hoping to pull off a coup by landing Insigne.

The 22-year-old is rated as a huge star in Serie A, while he has also turned out for Italy at full international level.

And according to agent Fabio Andreotti, Sunderland believe they would make a good option for Insigne to continue his career.

‘There has been an offer from Sunderland for Insigne,’ Andreotti told Italian radio.

‘We met with Napoli to discuss it, and Rafa Benitez assured us there is a role at the club for the player next season. He likes him a lot.’

But despite Napoli intending to hang onto the striker, Di Canio is planning to go all out to try and lure him to the Premier League.

Insigne would be offered guaranteed first-team football at the Stadium of Light next term – ideal as he bids to earn a place in the Italy squad ahead of the World Cup in Brazil next year.

Napoli would be unable to match that, especially as owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed they are hopeful of signing big-name duo Gonzalo Higuain and Leandro Damiao.

Sunderland’s opening bid was thought to be around £6million, but Napoli would want substantially more than that.

Di Canio has already raided his homeland twice this summer, bringing in Emanuele Giaccherini from Juventus and Modibo Diakité from Lazio, while Vito Mannone, Valentin Roberge, David Moberg Karlsson, Jozy Altidore, El-Hadji Ba and Cabral have also joined.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, want Sunderland midfielder David Vaughan.

Premier League clubs are weighing up moves for Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner, Sky Sports understands.

Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio has been busy in the transfer market this summer having brought in nine new faces and it means he could be forced to trim his squad on Wearside.

The news has alerted Premier League sides to Gardner's possible availability with the 26-year-old a proven performer having racked up over 150 top-flight appearances during his time at Aston Villa, Birmingham and Sunderland.

Gardner was one of Sunderland's shining lights last season in a disappointing campaign, impressing after being used as an emergency right-back for a large period of the campaign.

Despite being played in a full-back position, the 26-year-old managed to score eight goals in all competitions last season for Sunderland

The former England Under 21 international's versatility and experience makes him an attractive proposition for clubs with his suitors now monitoring his situation at the Stadium of Light.

Saturday 15:00 Kick off @ Heritage Park, home of Bishop Auckland.

Full Time Score:
[b]Darlington 2 - 3 Sunderland XI (U21)

Scorers:
Louis Laing (Sunderland) (1)
Andy Johnson (Darlington)[PEN] (2)
Jordan Laidler (Sunderland) [PEN] (3)
Jordan Robinson (Darlington) (4)
Duncan Watmore (Sunderland) (5)

Darlo team:- Turns, Hunter, Brown, Robinson, Poole, Moore, Davis, Robinson, Hedley, Purewal, Johnson.
subs:- David Mitchell, Adam Cox, Tom Atkinson, Axel Williamson, Louis Scarr

Sunderland team:- Agnew, Bardsley, Cartwright, Dixon, Ferguson, Gorrin, Harrison, Holland, Honeyman, Knott, Laidley.
subs:- Laing, Lawson, Lynch, McNamee, Marrs, Mitchell, Strjyek, Watmore.

Attendance: 482

Denis Law Tournament:

Sunderland (U16) 3 vs 0 Motherwell
http://youtu.be/3wT_xstC_sY

Sunderland (U16) 2 vs 2 Aberdeen
http://youtu.be/6nwh_lH2YwA

4ct stop watching football soccer and get back to owning SFBE.

>>70 He's in hiding.

For U.S. soccer fans:
SAFC New York City is a Sunderland fan club located in Nevada smiths bar at 74 Third Avenue, Manhattan, New York city. Sunderland games are televised live from there during match days.

Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio admits he is still looking to add to his squad before the start of the new season.

Di Canio has been one of the busiest managers in the Premier League this summer, bringing in nine new faces and he has no plans to stop yet.

The Italian believes he needs to bring in a few more players if the side are to improve on last season's disappointing campaign.

Asked if he planned to make any more forays in the transfer market, Di Canio told reporters in Hong Kong ahead of next week's Barclays Asia Trophy.

"Of course," said Di Canio. "Obviously we know the board knows that we need something more. But I don't know if it's possible at the moment.

"We have already made some good signings and the club has made some sacrifices in some ways, they have spent some money.

"So I am happy, but obviously it would be better to bring in one or two other players, but we will see."

SUNDERLAND have been alerted to the availability of Inter Milan’s Serbian midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic.

The 25-year-old only joined the Italian side in January this year but has failed to fit into the team’s way of playing and has been told he is being put up for sale this summer.

This week the club will listen to offers with both Sunderland and Aston Villa reputed to have made enquiries according to the Sunday Mirror but there is also interest from Malaga and the Serb’s former club Stuttgart.

Kuzmanovic joined Inter from Stuttgart, having enjoyed a decent spell at the Bundesliga club from 2009-13, scoring 18 goals in 93 appearances.

But his time at Inter has been less successful – playing only 10 games and failing to score in any of them.

There is more to the 6ft tall Eastern European than goals and he is reported to feel aggrieved not to be given more playing time at the San Siro.

But while a parting of the ways looks inevitable, it remains to be seen which club he will join, although Stuttgart looks unlikely with things having turned sour prior to his departure.

Kuzmanovic is said to have a £3.5m release clause in his contract but Sunderland are currently looking at a string of potential targets in midfield and others look to be higher up the shopping list than the Serb currently is.

Phil Bardsley Helps Sunderland Development Squad To 3-2 Win Against Darlington

Sunderland’s development squad continued their pre-season preparations with a 3-2 win over Northern League champions Darlington in Bishop Auckland.

Phil Bardsley captained the young side, having been left out of the first team squad that flew out to Hong Kong to play in the Barclays Asia trophy.

Goals from Louis Laing, Jordan Laidler and recent signing Duncan Watmore were enough to give Kevin Ball’s Sunderland side victory.

Sunderland target Inter Milan stopper Cristiano Biraghi

SUNDERLAND are set to make a move for Inter Milan defender Cristiano Biraghi.

Zdravko Kuzmanovic’s Inter experience could be short-lived, as he’s linked with West Ham, Sunderland and Aston Villa.

The 25-year-old Serbian midfielder only arrived in January from VfB Stuttgart for €1.2m, but struggled to make an impact.

He made 13 Serie A appearances and one in the Coppa Italia.

According to The Mirror, Kuzmanovic has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs for a summer move.

West Ham United had already been linked, but are now joined by Sunderland and Aston Villa, while Malaga are also an option in Spain.

Ex-Sunderland star hit by Arsenal blow

NICKLAS Bendtner’s stuttering career has hit another setback with the striker believing Arsenal are pricing him out of a move.

The Danish forward – who spent the 2011-12 season on loan to Sunderland – has returned to the Emirates after spending last season on loan to Serie A giants Juventus.

He has been keen to leave the Gunners for some time after a very public fall out with the club but says he is going to struggle to find a club to match both Arsenal’s £6.5m valuation and his wage demands.

Several Sunday newspapers report that Bendtner is now ready to threaten to STAY at Arsenal for the remaining year of his contract and leave for free next summer – unless the Gunners drop their asking price.

The 25-year-old Danish international is on more than £75,000 per week at the moment and will find it hard to get a club prepared to pay him that sort of money given he has failed to enhance his reputation in recent seasons.

In order to attract potential buyers, he is likely to need Arsenal to give him away for a very modest sum and so far the North London side have shown reluctance to do so.

Bendtner blew hot and cold during his stay at Sunderland, scoring eight goals in 25 starts and three substitute appearances for the Black Cats.

But that was infinitely better than he managed on loan at Juventus last season where he made just two starts (seven sub) and failed to score.

Despite reports that the Sunderland midfielder is attracting interest from elsewhere, the Black Cats must keep him.

When Craig Gardner joined Sunderland in 2011, I hailed it as one of the signings of the summer.

The midfielder’s previous campaign with Birmingham City had been outstanding, where he finished as the club’s top scorer with 10 goals and bagged a League Cup winner’s medal for good measure.

At just 24, Gardner had the potential to become as much of a goal-scoring threat from the middle as the likes of Tim Cahill in his pomp.

And yet his first season at the Stadium of Light proved something of a come-down; a campaign in which he wasn’t always first-choice and his goal-return was just three in 37 appearances.

Perhaps that outstanding season at St Andrew’s was a one-off and I was wrong about his potential to improve.

But last season he more than doubled his goal tally for the Black Cats, scoring eight times despite playing the vast majority of the campaign as an emergency right-back.

So with a fresh season about to begin, and Gardner approaching the peak of his career having finally found his feet at his new club, I expected him to kick on and influence games even more than he had back in 2010.

That was until this morning’s reports claiming a number of Premier League rivals were considering a move for the midfielder.

There is no suggestion Paolo Di Canio’s side are willing to sell; only that he has attracted interest. But with nine new signings in place and talk of more, how much can the 26-year-old expect to play…and how often in his preferred position?

In truth Di Canio’s signings to date are yet to add to his attacking midfield options. Two defensive midfielders and a right-winger are the closest Gardner has to competition for a starting birth.

But the talk has now begun. And even where the rumour mill is concerned, there is no smoke without fire; although in some cases that smoke is a single wisp quickly dispersed.

Sunderland fans will hope that is the case in this instance. Di Canio’s substantial spending may prompt the departure of those he criticised last season, but Gardner cannot join them.

A team of new faces will take time to gel. Gardner made that same transition long ago. It is now time to play him in his natural position and enjoy the results.

If they don’t, there will be a number of top flight rivals who will be happy to do just that.

How important is Gardner to Sunderland?  And are you happy with the club's new signings?

PAOLO DI CANIO is looking to add another couple of players to Sunderland’s ranks, despite already bringing eight fresh faces to the Stadium of Light this summer, writes Chris Young in Hong Kong.

Sunderland landed in Hong Kong today ahead of the Barclays Asia Trophy, with a very different looking squad at Di Canio’s disposal to the one which finished last season.

New boys Cabral, Valentin Roberge, Modibo Diakite, Emanuele Giaccherini, Jozy Altidore, El-Hadji Ba, David Moberg Karlsson and Vito Mannone all touched down at Hong Kong international, while Sunderland continue to tie up the loose ends of a deal for right-back Gino Peruzzi.

But head coach Di Canio admits he is still keen for more signings, although he accepts the financial reality for Sunderland.

The Black Cats remain without a specialist left-back after being unable to seal a move for Argentine defender Lucas Orban, with Valencia defender Aly Cissokho continuing to be linked with a switch to Wearside in the Spanish press over the weekend.

And after offloading Danny Graham to Hull, plus the potential return of Alfred N’Diaye to Turkey, Sunderland could also be in the hunt for a new striker or central midfielder.

Di Canio said today: “The board knows that we need something more but I don’t know if it is possible at the moment.

“We have already made good signings and the club have made a sacrifice in some way by spending money, because we cannot cancel in an instant what has happened in the past.

“So I am happy.

“It would be better if we could bring in one to two more players but we will see.”

Sunderland face Spurs in their opening game of the tournament on Wednesday (11am British time) before tackling either South China FC or Manchester City on Saturday.

And Di Canio believes facing fellow Premier League sides will prove beneficial for the Black Cats after tackling lower league opposition in two behind-closed-doors games at their Italian training camp.

“I can see my team play in real tests, playing the sides we will meet in the league, two of the best sides in England,” added Di Canio.

“Also for the new players, it will be a good test to find what level of difficulty we will find during the league.

“Even if the temperature in Hong Kong does not help to see the real English football but anyway they will play top footballers.

“That is a very important test for the players and for me to the test them.”

Sunderland midfielder Alfred N’Diaye looks set to return to Turkey after pulling out of the club’s trip to Asia.

The France midfielder, who became a father over the weekend, is understood to be in negotiations with Eskiehirspor.

N’Diaye, signed from Bursaspor by Martin O’Neill just six months ago in a £3.8million deal, has been told he can leave Wearside by manager Paolo Di Canio.

And Eskiehirspor vice-president Mehmet Akman has confirmed his club are in talks with the 23-year-old to take him back to Turkey. The club are managed by Ertugrul Saglam, N’Diaye’s former boss at Bursaspor.

Akman said: 'We have started negotiations with N’Diaye and currently talks are progressing in a smooth way. We believe this transfer will take place.'

N’Diaye, who started 15 games following his arrival in January, is likely to leave on a loan deal, with the option of a permanent move.

Meanwhile Di Canio has said he wants two more signings to add to the nine he has made so far this summer.

The Sunderland head coach, who faces Tottenham in Hong Kong on Wednesday morning, is close to agreeing a deal for Greek winger Charis Mavrias.

Sunderland are understood to have agreed a £2.5million fee with Panathinaikos for the Greece international who is expected on Wearside for a medical this week.

SUNDERLAND are believed to have made an enquiry for Valencia left-back Aly Cissokho after long-running efforts to sign Argentine full-back Lucas Orban failed to pay off.

The French international of Senegalese descent has the pace and energy boss Paolo Di Canio wants in that position and, at 25, fits the template of the sort of player Sunderland are now looking to recruit – good, young players who can improve further.

But, at the moment, if there is interest from the Black Cats, it is only at the very tentative stage.

Cissokho would be a top-quality signing, if Sunderland can lure him to the Stadium of Light.

And Sunderland will be aware that cash-strapped Valencia are weighing up options in terms of fund-raising sales.

The Black Cats’ biggest problem, though, might not be in persuading Valencia to sell, but Cissokho to leave.

And if the full-back is to leave the Mestalla, Liverpool are likely to aggressively pursue his signature.

Cissokho said recently: “Every player at the club is subject to speculation given the financial situation.

“I’ve had possibilities, that’s true, but I’m happy here, I’ve played in big games in both the Champions League and La Liga.”

Liverpool have been tracking the defender for some time and would be expected to rival Sunderland if Cissokho eventually leaves Spain.

Sunderland’s need for a new left-back is their most pressing concern after a summer of recruitment which has still to address the gap left by the return to Spurs of on-loan left-back Danny Rose, who spent all last season on Wearside.

The Black Cats have pursued Atletico Tigre defender Orban since the end of last season, along with Spanish sides Villarreal and Sevilla, but are now believed to have grown weary of the player’s failure to make progress on the potential move.

Neither is Rose likely to be a viable option, despite the England Under-21 international’s successful stint at the Stadium of Light.

Spurs are reportedly ready to give Rose a first-team opportunity at White Hart Lane this season.

And with Sunderland also losing out to Marseille in the race for French defender Benjamin Mendy, the Wearsiders are having to re-cast their net for a new left-back.

Sunderland were given no encouragement after making an enquiry for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Bastian Oczipka last week, while they have also been linked with Inter Milan’s Italian Under-21 international Cristiano Biraghi.

Biraghi’s agent, Mario Giuffredi, admits a move to Sunderland – where the 20-year-old would be reunited with ex-Inter chief scout Valentino Angeloni – is an attractive one.

“At the moment, I put the Premier League as the boy’s first-choice,” said Giuffredi. “Playing in England is the dream of all the players.

“There is also Angeloni who knows the guy right from the youth team and Di Canio is a great coach.

“It is definitely a welcome destination. We’ll see the evolution of the market.”

Argentina full-back Gino Peruzzi looks set to finally sign for Sunderland after overcoming injury concerns.

The 21-year-old had hoped to complete his transfer from Velez Sarsfield during a visit to England last week, but having agreed personal terms, there was a hitch when his medical revealed worries over a ligament injury suffered last season.

Peruzzi was sent to see a specialist in Rome and it would seem the green light has been given after he was put on a training programme to address the issue.

A statement on Velez's official website read: "Sunderland requested permission to subject Gino Peruzzi to a final evaluation at the Clinica Deportiva Villa Stuart in Rome, which is directed by the renowned Professor Pier Paolo Mariani.

"The evaluation had a positive result with Prof Mariani recommending specific work on the affected muscle area. Meanwhile, Sunderland had travelled to Hong Kong for some international matches, so the English club's authorities communicated their intention to sign the contract on the return of their president in the course of this week.

"Our club's entourage returned to Argentina on Sunday, anticipating that Gino Peruzzi will travel to England again in the coming days."

Peruzzi would be the latest addition to a much-changed squad with manager Paolo Di Canio having already made nine summer signings and allowed Simon Mignolet, Titus Bramble, Matt Kilgallon and Ahmed Elmohamady to leave the club.

Sunderland face Tottenham at the Hong Kong Stadium on Wednesday, and the winners will play Manchester City or South China FC in the final on Saturday with the two losers meeting earlier the same day.

Di Canio knows the tournament will represent a challenge for his new-look side, particularly so early in pre-season, but he is confident of making an impression.

The Italian told SAFC TV: "Always I want to win in any game. Against Tottenham in front of most parts of the world on live television, the stadium is sold out...but it is more important for me to see my players in action.

"I am sure they are going to give their best because it's a big opportunity for all of them, and the new faces that we have, to see the improvement individually, but more importantly collectively against a top side.

"Ironically, we played the last game of the season against them. We know them approximately because they haven't changed a lot. It will be a good test. Obviously, we can't see, I presume, for both sides the incredible intensity straight away because we are in the middle of pre-season.

"But we will see straight away the desire, the attitude and the quality from both teams trying to beat each other."

Sunderland transfer news: Farewell Danny Graham, we hardly knew you

Poor old Danny Graham. Signed as a final, desperate throw of the dice by Martin O’Neill in January his time on Wearside is up as Hull complete a deal for the former Swansea forward on loan for the coming season.

The Newcastle born forward caused somewhat of a storm in a teacup when Sunderland’s interest was reported earlier this year with sections of the Stadium of Light unable to contain their tribal allegiances during the Sunderland vs. Swansea fixture before Graham’s transfer was announced and the boyhood Newcastle fan was audibly booed throughout.

That said, once the dust had settled and the ink had dried on Graham’s contract the fans rallied around their new man. Sunderland were woeful in front of goal and such was the desperate need for another goal scorer that trust was put in Danny to help the side to safety.

If there is one thing Sunderland fans will not accept it is a perceived lack of effort.

Then came Steven Fletcher’s injury.

No problem. Graham was known to be proficient as a lone striker from his time with Swansea, we’ll be fine…

Fast forward to May. O’Neill had gone. Di Canio arrived. Sunderland rallied somewhat and narrowly avoided the drop. Yet Graham was still yet to open his account for the club. Eleven desperate, barren league appearances passed with no return.

Steven Fletcher’s injury was Graham’s golden opportunity on Wearside and, in my humble opinion, he blew it. Big style.

Now this isn’t to say that Graham was rubbish. He wasn’t far off, but he wasn’t that bad. Indeed in the Tyne/Wear Derby Graham put in a fantastic shift, running himself into the ground and came close to breaking his duck in what would have been dramatic circumstances.

However there were also times when he looked unfit, lost and even disinterested and if there is one thing Sunderland fans will not accept it is a perceived lack of effort.

In Graham’s defence, he was leading the line of a Sunderland side that more often than not lacked any real semblance of attacking creativity and chances were few and far between for the forward, however when one did drop, he fluffed his lines.

At the end of the day, with the curtain falling on Graham’s Sunderland short-lived career, there will be few Sunderland fans that will be particularly bothered with his departure but equally there will be few fans celebrating his exit. It was a case of wrong player and the wrong club at the wrong time. In fact it was the kind of signing that in ten years or so fans will look back at and struggle to remember that Graham even played for the club.

Farewell Danny Graham, we hardly knew ye.