Sunderland are weighing up a £7million bid for Manchester United
midfielder Michael Carrick.
Stadium of Light supremo Steve Bruce is preparing to raid his
former club for fellow ex-Wallsend Boys Club player Carrick as he
looks for an immediate replacement for captain Lorik Cana.
Out of Africa: Michael Carrick was an unused member
of England's World Cup squad in South Africa
The Albania midfielder stunned the Wearside club earlier this
week after engineering a £6m switch to Galatasaray, two days into
pre-season training and just a year after joining the club from
Marseille.
Carrick, who moved to Old Trafford from Tottenham for an initial
£14m four years ago, would be ideal skipper material for Bruce, who
has Michael Turner, Lee Cattermole or Craig Gordon as alternatives
to take the captain's armband.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is prepared to listen to offers
for the England midfielder, who turns 29 at the end of the
month.
Wallsend-born Carrick, like Bruce a boyhood Newcastle fan,
struggled to hold down a regular place at Old Trafford last season,
starting only two of the last nine games as they lost their title
to Chelsea.
Lead role: Michael Carrick would be ideal skipper
material for Steve Bruce
Despite losing Cana, Bruce does have cover in central midfield
following the surprise emergence of Jordan Henderson and David
Meyler from the academy. But Meyler is out until Christmas at least
after suffering a serious knee injury against United in May.
Cattermole, Kieran Richardson, new signing Cristian Riveros and
highly rated teenager Jack Colback are other options, but Bruce
wants an experienced campaigner for the start of the campaign.
Sunderland have also made a £6.5m bid for Schalke's Germany
international Heiko Westermann while Argentine defender Marcos
Angeleri is training on Wearside as he waits to complete a loan
move from Mexico.
Rennes' Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is under consideration but
Wigan have priced Charles N'Zogbia and Maynor Figueroa out of moves
to Sunderland.
