NDONG TO BE TOP CAT
ALL THE MOVES Record buy vows to woo Wearside
DIDIER NDONG has vowed to be the talk of Wearside after joining Sunderland in a record £13.6m deal.
The Gabon midfielder arrives in England as a relative unknown despite being one of the rising stars of French football in his one season at Lorient.
And while Sunderland fans welcomed his arrival and the Black Cats’ belated decision to splash the cash, few are familiar with Ndong.
The 22-year-old has pledged to change that – even though he’ll have to bide his time for his Sunderland debut.
He is suspended for their next game at home to Everton on Monday week, having been sent off in his final appearance for Lorient.
But Ndong, who has signed a five-year contract, reckons he can make an immediate impact ® in David Moyes’ side. He said: “Maybe the Sunderland fans don’t know me yet but I promise that they will quickly discover that I will give everything for them and the club.
“It will be an honour to wear the Sunderland shirt.”
Ndong had been compared to Michael Essien for his all-action game, although he needs to improve on a poor disciplinary record in Ligue 1. Moyes plans to pair Ndong alongside Yann M’Vila in the Black Cats’ engine room.
The Rubin Kazan star is wanted on a permanent deal following last season’s loan.
He becomes a free agent in the New Year and Sunderland, not surprisingly, have refused to pay the £7m asking price.
A deal to bring Norwich striker Steven Naismith to Wearside collapsed over the fee.
But the club were hoping to push through a season-long loan for Manchester City defender Jason Denayer.