Bluebirds set to swoop for Cats’ Ndong
CARDIFF City have tabled a counter-offer for Didier Ndong after Torino made the first move for the Sunderland midfielder.
Brighton and Hove Albion, meanwhile, face competition from a London club for midfielder Paddy McNair after having two bids turned down.
Torino upped their initial to £2.6m to £6.6m for Ndong last week but their interest has smoked out a bid from Cardiff.
The Premier League new boys were known to be admirers – along with Lyon and Galatsaray – and according to Gabonese website isport they have bettered the Serie A club’s offer with a bid of £7m.
Ndong might be pleased to hear that because the indications were he would prefer to stay in the Premier League.
He spent the second half of the season on loan at Watford but never made it from the bench in the three games where he was selected in the matchday squad.
Ndong joined Sunderland for a club record £13m fee from Lorient on transfer deadline day in August 2016.
Ideally, Sunderland would like to keep Manchester United product McNair (pictured below) but they may have to accept the inevitable given the quality of his performances at the end of last season.
When it comes to Ndong, though, they will be delighted to encourage an auction.
New owner Stewart Donald insists the club is in a financial position to keep any of the highearning players it wants to - but with the very heavy caveat they must show the desire to play in League One.
There are plenty of players in the squad signed when the Black Cats were still a Premier League side - and their wages reflect that.
Although predecessor Ellis Short wiped out Sunderland’s £125m debt to allow Donald to take over, they still owe around £25m in instalments on previous signings and had running costs of around £3m last season.
Manager Jack Ross insists he has not discussed his transfer budget with Donald but it is sure to hinge on sales, even if Juan Sartori is given Football League approval to put in extra investment as a minority stakeholder.
Brighton had bids of £2m and £3.5m for McNair turned down last week but there is plenty of competition for the Northern Ireland international’s services.
Derby County, Stoke City and Norwich City have all been linked with the 23-year-old but it is thought an un-named London club has had a £3.75m bid rejected.
Regardless of where Ndong and/or McNair end up, it seems inevitable Sunderland will be seeking new central midfielders.
Among those being linked to them are Tom Naylor - out of contract at Burton Albion - and Hibernian’s Dylan McGeouch.