Lens is finally out of picture
Winger off to Turkey as Cats cut their losses
SUNDERLAND are insisting they have done a better deal for Jeremain Lens than has been reported in Turkey.
Information on the 29-year-old’s move came out haphazardly over the weekend, Besiktas first announcing it on social media and Lens confirming it yesterday before the Black Cats finally announced he would be leaving.
Unsurprisingly, therefore, details of the transfer fee have been hard to come by.
However, Sunderland have downplayed reports the fee is just £4m and is to be spread over two years.
Either way, Lens is yet another player sold at a loss and for much less than the £8m the Black Cats had hoped for after his impressive performances on loan at Besiktas’ city rivals Fenerbahce last season.
Lens’ departure had been expected long before now.
He annoyed his parent club in January when he said moving away as he hoped would be much easier if they were relegated.
The Dutch international’s talent has never been in doubt and was underlined by four pre-season goals this summer - but at times his attitude was.
Dick Advocaat brought Lens to Wearside, having previously coached him at PSV Eindhoven and capped him for the Netherlands.
He was Fenerbahce coach when the Turks took Lens on a successful season-long loan last term.
At times during his twoyear career on Wearside Lens showed flashes of the talent which earned him his 34 international caps – including a World Cup semi-final appearance in 2014 – and persuaded Advocaat to bring him to the Stadium of Light at a cost of around £11m.
He scored three goals in his 22 Sunderland appearances, including an excellent strike against West Ham United in Advocaat’s final game for the club but, like many a talented overseas player, struggled to adapt to English football and did not always show the application required.
He was also sent off in Advocaat’s farewell match.
Successors Sam Allardyce, David Moyes and Simon Grayson did not see Lens as part of their plans.
Moyes used Lens twice as a substitute last August before sending him on a season-long loan to Fenerbahce.
Lens scored five goals and made 17 during an impressive first season in Istanbul, winning an international recall, and both parties made it known they were keen on making the arrangement permanent.
However, when it became clear Fener would struggle to accommodate his wages within Uefa’s financial fair play regulations, Turkish champions Besiktas showed an interest the player willingly encouraged.