THE Tyne-Wear battle for
Richard Dunne ended in disappointment
for both Sunderland
and Newcastle United
yesterday, when the Irishman
signed a new four-year contract
at Manchester City.
Both Roy Keane and Kevin
Keegan had hoped to lure the
powerful defender to the
North-East this summer, but
new City boss Mark Hughes
has convinced him to stay.
The 28-year-old's previous
contract was due to expire at
the end of next season and
Keane had pinpointed the
Blues captain as the ideal man
to provide experience at the
heart of his defence.
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And now, with the chances
of him signing Jonny Evans
on a permanent basis from
Manchester United slim, the
Sunderland boss is having to
look at his options.
Dunne said: "When Mark
Hughes got the job, I think
everyone was really pleased
and I was thrilled that he
seemed to make it a priority to
sort my contract out. I'm delighted
to be able to stay."
Keane is determined to add
to his defensive options before
Liverpool visit the Stadium of
Light on August 16 and an experienced
centre-back is high
on his list of priorities.
He will hope that young
Frenchman Jean-Yves M'voto
graduates from the reserves
to compete for a first-team
place with Nyron Nosworthy,
Paul McShane and Danny
Higginbotham.
But Keane knows that a
player proven at the highest
level has to be in his thinking
as he has already lost Evans,
whose loan has expired.
Andrew Cole, meanwhile, is
understood to have secured a
£25,000-a-week contract at
Nottingham Forest.
Cole, released by Keane at
the end of the season after
failing to make an impact, was
also wanted by Burnley,
where he scored six times in
13 appearances on loan.
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