McCormack, Mendes and why deals fell through!
NEW DOCUMENTARY OFFERS REVEALING INSIGHT INTO TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY
Simon Grayson’s dismay at Sunderland’s failure to land Ross McCormack has been revealed – with the former manager disappointed in Martin Bain’s decision-making.
The second episode of Netflix documentary ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ offers a revealing insight into the Black Cats’ chase for a striker and how Bain ultimately pulled the plug on a deal for McCormack in August 2017 – one of then-manager Grayson’s top targets.
Grayson had been keen on a deal for Aston Villa frontman McCormack and, as revealed in the documentary, was alerted to the potential that a deal could be done late on during deadline day – prompting a SIMON GRAYSON ‘hell for leather’ drive for his signature.
But after talks progressed, chief executive Bain halted the deal due to financial reasons – a move which left Grayson seething.
“Five minutes after [thinking the deal was on], Martin comes in and tells me the news I didn’t want to hear,” said the former Sunderland boss.
“When somebody like Ross comes available, who signed for Fulham for £12million, a recognised striker who scores, then you get them over the line.
“We’ve not been able to bring in players that maybe Sunderland supporters expected. Did I agree with it? No, but that’s just my opinion.”
Bain, though, argued his case and said he was trying to protect the club’s interests.
“The club desperately needed a striker, I completely get that,” said Bain. “When it came to the transfer, the financial terms were completely different from Villa’s perspective and the wrong thing to do in the transfer window is jump in and commit to a lot of money.
“We don’t go out and splash cash. It’s not the thing to do.”
Another deal on the cards during deadline day was for Joseph Mendes – a French striker who was playing for Reading.
The club were frantically trying to get Mendes to Farnborough airport to facilitate his transport to the North East ahead of securing an agreement. But the deal ultimately fell through, leaving Grayson without the striker he craved.