Roy digs in for Gardner swoop

ROY HODGSON is ready to move for Craig Gardner this summer and save him from homesickness.

The West Brom boss has admitted that the Sunderland midfielder remains a serious Albion target for next season.

Gardner almost joined the Baggies in January after struggling to settle on Wearside but has now spectacularly recovered his best form to become a key figure under new Black Cats boss Martin O’neill.

The former Aston Villa and Birmingham star faced Albion last weekend and Hodgson claims he will launch another bid to steal him at the end of the season.

“The idea was mooted because he was very unhappy up there and apparently wanted to get back to Birmingham,” said Hodgson.

Desires

“There was some initial suggestion that if we were prepared to pay the right price we could buy him – or an even better suggestion at one stage was that we could get him on loan him with a view to buying him.

“That unfortunately fell through and, while these talks which were taking place at the beginning of the transfer window, Craig got back into the team and started playing really well and scoring goals.

“So the longer we went into January the less likely it was he would leave Sunderland.

“Now I don’t know what his situation is. I don’t know whether he’s happy there or whether he has desires to come back to the Midlands.

“If he does feel like he wants to come back to the Midlands then I’m sure we’ll be one of the clubs interested in him because he’s such a good player.”