Coleman wary of Grabban’s clause
JOEL AT BURTON LAST WEEK, AND JUST HOW IMPRESSIVELY HE FULFILLED HIS BRIEF IN MUCH-NEEDED VICTORY MATCH FACTS OPPOSITION BOSS HISTORY LESSON
Chris Coleman has already lined up his primary Sunderland transfer targets, and wants the club to be on the ‘front foot’ should Bournemouth recall Lewis Grabban in January.
The Cherries loaned Grabban (pictured) to Sunderland in the summer in a cut-price deal, with the Black Cats paying only a fraction of his wages and no fee.
There is a recall clause as part of the deal, with speculation mounting that his goalscoring exploits have attracted the attention of Wolves and Fulham, bothof whom were desperate to add extra striking options in the summer window.
With Grabban seemingly having little future on the South Coast, Bournemouth could well be tempted to cash in while his stock is high.
Coleman says the club have had no indication as of yet that they will do so.
He said: “We’ve got Grabban, the top scorer, there’s lots of speculation about clauses in his contracts and whether he can be recalled.
“We’ve not heard anything from Bournemouth to suggest that would happen.
“That is what it is, a contract is a contract.
“From what I can see, the player is happy here.
“We’ve had no contact from Bournemouth regarding Lewis, although I’m sure, on the back of what he’s done, there’ll be plenty of admirers.
“But, as I sit here, Lewis will, we hope, be here for the rest of the season.”
Coleman has targets lined up for the upcoming window, and so will be prepared should Grabban depart.
The Echo revealed earlier this month that Liverpool duo Danny Ward and Ben Woodburn, both of whom played a part under Coleman in the Wales set-up, feature prominently in his thoughts.
Money will be tight for the Black Cats, but Coleman hopes to make some additions. He said: “I’ve been here a few weeks. The positions and the people I’d like to b r i ng i n I already know. “That [Grabban recall] is a possibility, but we’re not anticipating it. Of course, you never know in football.
“Of course we have to look at that and if does happen we need to make sure we’re on the front foot and we’ve got someone coming the other way. Fingers crossed, it won’t.”
Coleman also opened up on his frustration that fellow striker James Vaughan will miss tomorrow’s crucial home clash with Reading due to suspension.
Vaughan was booked at Burton last weekend for his celebrations as the Black Cats took a late lead, a decision Coleman felt was harsh.
He said: “He was celebrating for seven or eight seconds, never took his jersey off, never ran into the crowd, ran up to the crowd.
“You could see his frustration because he hadn’t scored in a while, I thought it was harsh.
“It was disappointing, he’s frustrated because strikers need goals.
“I was delighted he got it because he deserves it. It was a harsh booking.
“I was disappointed for him more than disappointed with him.”