West Ham United v Sunderland
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From the later days of June, Sunderland had been linked with 24-year-old Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon. But, as the pre-season went on and on, fans were left wondering if it was all just paper talk.
The highly-rated Hearts stopped had been a target for Aston Villa and Manchester City, as well as Sunderland, but after three bids from Keane were rebuffed, it was a record breaking fourth bid that proved successful.
So, on the eve of the new season – with the Premier League opener with Spurs only days away – Gordon arrived at the Stadium of Light.
It took Keane’s spending close to £30m for the summer, and eclipsed the club’s previous record transfer fee paid – £8m to Rangers for Tore Andre Flo – by £1m.
09/12/06 SPL.HEARTS v MOTHERWELL (4-1).TYNECASTLE - EDINBURGH.Hearts keeper Craig Gordon wears the captain’s arm band (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
09/12/06 SPL.HEARTS v MOTHERWELL (4-1).TYNECASTLE - EDINBURGH.Hearts keeper Craig Gordon wears the captain’s arm band (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The transfer fee also made Gordon the most expensive British keeper in history – Fabian Barthez held that title previously – and despite last minute talks with Villa, it was Sunderland that secured Gordon’s signature.
Until this signing, Sunderland’s transfer activity upon their return to the Premier League had been criticised in some quarters of the fanbase, with accusations questioning Drumaville’s spending power or desire to dip their hands into their pockets. The likes of Jermain Defoe, Chris Baird and David Nugent had turned down moves to the Stadium of Light, and thankfully the tenacity of Keane and Quinn got this move over the line. Eventually.
However the signing of the highly rated Gordon quelled that a little.
Quinn said:
We didn’t lose our nerve. My message to our fans is that we haven’t jumped in when an agent has rung us with a fashionable player.
A lot of things have to fall right for someone to come to play at Sunderland. It’s been suggested people have turned us down - but it might be the other way around as well.
Character is important to us. The players showed it in abundance last season and if you’re not prepared to scrap in a Sunderland shirt, Roy Keane and Sunderland is not the place for you.
Sunderland’s reinforcements weren’t likely to stop there, however. The likes of Michael Chopra, Paul McShane, Russell Anderson and Kieran Richardson had all arrived a the club during the summer, and another striker was in Keane’s sights.
29/10/2005 - FA Premiership Football, Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal, Mido of Tottenham and Fredrik Ljungberg of Arsenal comes to grips after Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had been fouled. Referee Steven Bennett. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images)
29/10/2005 - FA Premiership Football, Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal, Mido of Tottenham and Fredrik Ljungberg of Arsenal comes to grips after Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had been fouled. Referee Steven Bennett. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images)
The Egyptian Mido, currently plying his trade in North London, was fancied by Keane, however the manager had been left frustrated by the striker being unwilling to agree to a face to face meeting. Sunderland were still hopefuly the Spurs player could be persuaded to move to the club. Mido confirmed had the choice of three clubs, and was sure to leave White Hart Lane.
I will certainly leave Tottenham soon. I received offers from three Premiership clubs and I will meet with my agent (this week) to give my final decision. I have official offers from Birmingham and Sunderland, and a third team which I do not wish to mention in public.