How good is it to watch the Championship semi – final play offs with a sense of dispassionate relaxation: Any supporter who has been through the agony of winning – and losing – the Championship play-off final takes great pleasure in not having to endure that particular football roller coaster again
Last night Sunderland booked their appointment at Wembley with a last gasp winner in extra time against Frank Lampard’s Coventry City.
Sheffield United await and are the odds- on, form favourites: West Ham’s recruiters will certainly be hoping that Sheffield do the decent thing and condemn the Black Cats to another season in the Championship. Three- no less – of the Hammers’ summer transfer targets are Sunderland players as reported earlier this month: Jobe Bellingham, Chris Rigg and Dan Neil -as a whole midfield is apparently on the radar.
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Bellingham at least is likely to prove beyond West Ham’s means financially if Sunderland don’t make it into the Premier League – a number of top tier sides have signalled interest meaning the price will head north of a Hammers budget.
Chris Rigg is a more promising option having been reportedly offered to West Ham earlier on in the season. The 17 year old is of course first and foremost working to secure his Premier League future with Sunderland, but looks the most likely candidate of the trio to be heading south if Sunderland’s promotion plans go west.
All eyes on Wembley on 24th May.