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The defender still had a lot to offer in the top-flight, but he snubbed it for League Two, though the bubble burst immediately

In the list of 'transfers you can't believe actually happened', Sol Campbell's to Notts County in 2009 should always be near the top. So much time – 15 years – has passed since the move went through that it is easy to forget just how perplexing it was.

The towering defender had been playing regularly in the Premier League for 16 years across spells at Tottenham, Arsenal and Portsmouth. He had won league titles, FA Cups, a League Cup and reached a Champions League final. He had hopes of making the England squad for the next World Cup, having already played in three and as many European Championships in a respectable international career.

Notts County, meanwhile, were stuck in League Two and had just finished 19th the previous season. Having avoided going out of business just six years prior, they had endured a long, tumultuous period.

Why, then, would Campbell leave the Premier League to sign a contract with the Magpies? It's a story of a dodgy takeover, false promises, unpaid wages, and Sven-Goran Eriksson. And, for Campbell, it was over as quickly as it began.

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  Sven & the takeover

  The 2000s were an insane time for Notts County. The 1990s had been chaotic enough as they yo-yoed between the third and fourth tiers of English football over the closing years of the decade, but if the Magpies thought the new millennium would be kind to them, they were sorely mistaken.

  By 2003, they had racked up such extreme debts that they were in danger of being liquidated. It was only thanks to cooperation between the club’s supporters and local businessmen that they were able to avoid such a horrible fate. That late rescue may have kept the club alive, but it could not stave off relegation as they plummeted to the fourth tier, where they stayed for several years.

  For all the suffering they had been put through, it appeared County fans may finally be led to the promised land when talks of a massive takeover emerged in 2009. Munto Finance, an unknown group, was backed by Qadbak Investments, another mysterious conglomerate, and claimed to be owned by prominent Middle Eastern families. They convinced the supporters’ trust to sell up for as little as £1, and completed the takeover that summer.

  In came ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson as the club’s new technical director, kickstarting a ridiculous few months which promised a great deal but came crumbling down almost immediately.

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  Big moves

  The 2008-09 season had just come to an end when County’s takeover by Munto Finance was completed. Eriksson was in as the technical director and it was time for the new administration to start putting into action their plan to turn the Meadow Lane mob into one capable of clawing their way up the ranks to the Premier League.

  Intriguingly, the new owners decided against spending huge sums of money. Besides splashing out on the signing of Karl Hawley from the Championship, they convinced players from a higher level to join in free transfers. A flurry of Championship and League One players made the step down, while they managed to bring in Premier League players such as goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who joined from Manchester City, as well as loan signings Dan Jones, fresh from a Championship-winning campaign with Wolves, and Campbell’s Portsmouth team-mate Matt Ritchie.

  Of course, the main attraction was the capture of Campbell. A two-time Premier League winner as part of Arsenal's famous Invincibles team, the defender was a household name in English football. He also won the FA Cup on two occasions and reached the Champions League final with the Gunners. When his spell in north London ended, the powerful centre-back joined Portsmouth and enjoyed a bright three seasons there.

  But just 12 months after he played a key role in Portsmouth’s magnificent FA Cup trophy win and fresh off of a 14th-placed finish in the Premier League, the 73-time England international agreed to drop down to League Two to reunite with Eriksson at County. He signed a five-year contract with the club worth a reported £40,000-per-week – an incomprehensible figure for a player at that level.

  His signing was a true statement of intent from the club’s owners and a hint that something magical could truly be brewing at Meadow Lane.

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  'Something special'

  Campbell could have stayed in the Premier League if he had wanted to. After all, he still had hopes of making Fabio Capello’s squad for the World Cup in South Africa the following year.

  Aston Villa, Hull City and Everton were said to be interested in snapping up the experienced and proven winner, and he admitted that he had offers from the top division, but he turned them away because the deals were short-term. The promise of a long stay at Notts County and the prospect of being part of a historic journey tipped the scales as he weighed up his future.

  “I know this will probably mean the end of my England career, but that is something I have to get on with. There was a chance of England if I had gone to a Premier League side and had a good season, but I have to look to the long-term future,” he said.

  “When Sven first contacted me, I thought I was the victim of a prank, but the length of contract at Notts County was a big trade-off. The other stuff was short and prestigious, but I am looking to the future and for my career.”

  He added: “Sven was a big influence in my decision and he had to give me the hard sell. He was on the phone every three or four days.”

  When his move was confirmed, Campbell said: “I am confident that something special is being created at the club. It’s a challenge, but I think everyone connected with the club is prepared for that. And what a fantastic dream to have to keep winning promotions and get Notts County back into the Premier League. I want to be a part of that and I am genuinely excited by what the club is trying to achieve. I have been guaranteed that the club is going to move forward and I believe that all the people behind this, from the manager to the hierarchy, will make that an achievable aim.”

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• Short and not so sweet

  Something “special” certainly did happen to County, but not in the way Campbell and Co. had hoped. It took some time for the defender, then 34, to make his hotly-anticipated debut as he missed their opening games of the season, which showed much promise from a club buoyed by the presence of new owners. They scored nine goals in their first two League Two matches, trouncing Bradford City and Macclesfield Town, and beat Dagenham & Redbridge to offset defeats against Chesterfield and Barnet. A week before Campbell finally took to the field in matchday eight, they beat Northampton Town 5-2 to further heighten the excitement.

  So when Campbell did finally march out of the tunnel with his team-mates against Morecambe, there was much buzz around County. Sadly, it all came crashing down as they were overpowered, conceding two goals via set-pieces and losing 2-1.

  It was a poor start for Campbell, but it would also be the end. Less than a week later – and around a month after he joined the club – County confirmed that his contract had been terminated “by mutual consent”.

  “It’s one of those things, he joined on a five-year contract as part of the long-term project, but ultimately he’s come to the point, having been here five weeks, where he has decided it’s not for him,” chairman Peter Trembling. “Sometimes decisions are made, people make wrong decisions and Sol has decided this is not where he wants to be now. We’re not going to kick up a fuss about it. If he wants to go, he needs to go and we genuinely wish him all the best.”

  Many hoped that the short-lived Campbell saga was merely an anomaly, a small speedbump that would have little impact on the club’s journey to the top of the game. Instead, it was the beginning of the end of a short but calamitous period for Notts County.

Whilst focusing the majority of their attention on securing yet another Scottish Premiership title, Celtic have also started turning their focus towards the summer transfer window, where they could hand Brendan Rodgers a double boost.

Celtic transfer news

It has been far from a season without drama for Celtic, but ultimately it's one that could yet end with the ultimate silverware in another victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers. That said, the title race is still too close for comfort and has highlighted just where Rodgers and his side need to strengthen this summer, especially as Philippe Clement gears up for his first full season in charge at Ibrox.

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With that said, the rumour mill is already underway. Celtic have been linked with summer moves for the likes of Coaimhin Kelleher and midfield target Charles Pickel, as they look to replace the retiring Joe Hart and add to their depth in the middle of the park this summer. Meanwhile, Rodgers is also likely to get some positive contract news.

According to reports, a quick resolution is expected in Celtic's contract talks with left-back Greg Taylor in a move that will see the Bhoys keep hold of their man. That's not to say that their purusit of reinforcements in that area is coming to an end though.

According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Celtic are planning on signing a new full-back this summer, with Alexandro Bernabei's future still in doubt. Without the latter, Rodgers would be left without some much-needed depth in the full-back area, creating the need for a fresh face through the market.

Just who that fresh face is remains to be seen, but they may find themselves behind Taylor in the pecking order no matter what. With new contract in hand, he should only kick on further at Celtic.

Depth is key for Celtic dominance

Whilst things have been far closer this season, the summer transfer window could help Celtic push away from Rangers once more in the Scottish Premiership next season, especially if they add crucial depth to Rodgers' squad.

Keeping hold of Taylor is a major boost towards that depth too. The 26-year-old has more than made the position his own and Rodgers is well aware of his quality and need to find him some back-up: "My job is to bring competition to the squad in a number of areas. I’ve got to say, Greg has been brilliant for me.

"Clearly there is a loading issue there we need to be mindful of if we don’t bring in support there. I know I’ve got Liam Scales who can play there, in a worst case scenario."

Should Taylor seal a fresh deal in Scotland, then there won't be many more pleased than the Cetlic manager ahead of next season. The last thing any side needs when competing for the title or when defending their crown is for a key player to depart. And that's what Taylor is quickly becoming at Celtic Park under Rodgers.

An argument over Cristiano Ronaldo's £1,000 earrings led to a complete breakdown in the star's relationship with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

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• Ronaldo left under a cloud
• Has publicly slammed ten Hag
• Story about earrings sums up relationship

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo has been public in his distaste for ten Hag, previously insisting that the club "need to rebuild everything". Now, the Manchester Evening News has shared a story which gives an insight into how frosty the pair's relationship was during their time at Old Trafford, as the Portugal superstar threw a tantrum over his earrings.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to the newspaper, ten Hag instructed his players not to wear jewellery during training. Ronaldo had done so under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick but ten Hag had a separate policy. Eventually, ten Hag instructed Steve McClaren, his assistant, to deal with the matter and inform Ronaldo to take the earrings off; he responded by throwing them into a bush.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ronaldo played just 16 games under ten Hag at United, scoring three goals and laying on two assists. It is a stark contrast to his time under Solskjaer – nine goals in 13 games – and even his tenure playing under Rangnick, as he scored 12 goals in 22 games.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  United face Barnsley in the League Cup in midweek. Ronaldo will next be in action on Friday against Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, having been forced out of Al-Nassr's squad for an AFC Champions League clash with Al Shorta through illness.

Everton will be looking to make it five Premier League unbeaten when they host already relegated Sheffield United at Goodison Park this afternoon.

Sean Dyche's side drew 1-1 against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road last time out, ending the Toffees' three-game winning run which secured their top-flight status for another season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's first-half penalty was cancelled out by Elijah Adebayo's impressive strike, with neither side able to find a winner in the second 45.

With just two games remaining in the 2023/24 campaign, Everton are just playing for pride, but it could give the boss an opportunity to shuffle the pack and take a closer look at certain players ahead of next season.

Ahead of the clash against Chris Wilder's side, Dyche should drop one player and replace him with a talent who could potentially be featuring for the final time at Goodison.

Why Doucoure could make way vs Sheff Utd

Although midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has been impressive for the Toffees this season – scoring six goals, the second most of any player in the Everton squad – he's failed to find the back of the net once in 2024.

During his display against Rob Edwards' side last Friday, Doucoure only managed a 74% pass accuracy, completing just 17 out of the 23 passes he attempted that night.

He had a quiet game by his usual standards, managing to achieve a tally of just 28 touches, a figure of one every just under two minutes, but failing to create any real clear-cut chances in the process.

The former Watford midfielder also only won 50% of the duels he contested and gave possession away six times before being replaced in the 54th minute by Andre Gomes.

The fact he was hooked before the hour mark is evidence of his poor display, with Dyche potentially needing to replace him if the club are to continue their excellent recent form in the Premier League.

The man to replace Doucoure against Sheff Utd

Despite not starting any of the last four Premier League matches, midfielder Amadou Onana could have tempted boss Dyche to recall him to the starting lineup against the Blades this afternoon.

The "incredible" talent, as described by French football journalist Julien Laurens, has been excellent since his £33m move to the club from Lille, but has failed to nail down a regular starting spot in recent weeks.

Belgian midfielder Onana, who earns £100k-per-week as per Capology, has been linked with a move away from the Goodison as the club attempt to avoid any further punishment for breaching the PSR rules.

This afternoon could potentially be his last display in front of the Everton faithful, with the young "powerhouse" – as hailed by scout Antonio Mango – wanting to leave a lasting impression on the loyal fanbase.

Moving away from his potential departure, the Belgian deserves a recall, replacing Doucoure with the Malian international failing to take the opportunities handed his way over the past couple of months.

Latest Everton injury news, return dates and suspensions

FFC keeps you up to date with all the latest Everton news involving injuries.

By
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Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has provided an injury update on Leah Williamson ahead of the Gunners' Women's Super League opener with Manchester City.

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• Williamson benched in midweek due to 'problem'
• Arsenal start WSL season against Man City on Sunday
• Gunners boss Eidevall provides update on England star

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Williamson was on the bench for the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League second round qualifier on Wednesday, which they lost 1-0 to Hacken in Sweden. Eidevall said after the match that her absence from the starting XI was "a physical decision due to events that happened in the week".

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Gunners have some big games coming up. On Sunday, they kick-off their WSL season at home to Man City, who ran Chelsea so close for the title last year that the race was eventually decided on goal difference. Four days later, they host Hacken in the second leg of that European qualifier, needing to win by two goals to reach the group stage, and a couple of weeks after that, they host Chelsea.

• WHAT EIDEVALL SAID

  Asked about Williamson's availability going into Sunday's WSL opener, Eidevall said in his press conference on Friday: "She is okay. I don't really have all the information yet regarding the whole squad, but when it comes to Leah Williamson, yes, there was a problem that meant she was not in an ideal position to start the game against Hacken. That should not be the case now towards Sunday."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  While that is certainly good news for Arsenal ahead of some important fixtures, there are still absentees that Eidevall will have to cope without. The coach confirmed on Friday that both Steph Catley, the Australia international full-back, and Lina Hurtig, the Swedish forward, will not be available on Sunday. He did not provide timelines for their respective returns.

Enzo Maresca says Marc Cucurella is "very important" to Chelsea and that he needs "seven players" like him in his side.

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• Cucurella enjoying renaissance at Chelsea
• Maresca says he's a "very important player"
• Blues could do with "seven players" like him

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of the Spaniard facing his old Brighton side this weekend, Chelsea head coach Maresca was asked about the left-back's performances this season. The former Leicester City boss heaped praise on the 26-year-old and said that he improves his team-mates, too.

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  WHAT ENZO MARESCA SAID

  He told reporters on Friday: "Marc [Cucurella] is very important. Marc has something that you sometimes struggle to find in players. He is good and he is making the players around him good because he is a guy who is always talking, always demanding. If you can have five, six or seven players like Marc in your team, who are always talking about improving the rest, it’s very important. So I’m very happy with Marc."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After a difficult year or so for Chelsea, following his £62 million ($83m) switch from Brighton in 2022, Cucurella has come into his own for his club and Spain especially in 2024. He played a key role in his country's Euro 2024 triumph and the full-back appears to have carried that form into this season with Maresca's side.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Cucurella is likely to start for his Chelsea team – who sit fifth in the Premier League – at home to Brighton on Saturday afternoon, before taking on Gent in the Europa Conference League next Thursday.

Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou are ready to part ways with one of their players immediately as they look to start their summer overhaul.

Spurs looking to clean house

After a disappointing end to the season which saw them lose five of their last seven games, Spurs finished the Premier League in fifth place. Given the expectations around the club following the departure of Harry Kane though, it was still arguably a successful first season for Postecoglou, who breathed life into a side that had stagnated under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Now, the Lilywhites are keen to build upon that success and will use the summer transfer window to buy into Postecoglou's style of play, with the Australian having already revealed major changes are needed.

"We’ve had two windows and we’ve had some development of players, for sure, but when I say we’ve still got a long way to go, that’s what I’m talking about. We can’t be there yet because it’s impossible to say you’re going to have drastic change and yet expect everyone to be on that journey. It’s not for the want of trying..it’s just that we’re going to play a certain way, we’re going to train a certain way and we’re going to have a certain mindset, and that’s not for everyone", he explained at the beginning of May.

"I’ve got to change this squad, I have to. Because I’ve got to build a squad I think can play our football. For that to happen, there has to be exits. I can't just keep everyone here and keep bringing in players. So sometimes you let people go who you think ‘he’s a good player’ but how am I going to change if I don’t do that."

Now, Spurs and Postecoglou are ready to live up to those comments.

Tanguy Ndombele set to leave Spurs straight away

That comes as Tanguy Ndombele will leave the club, according to a report from Football Insider, with the Frenchman having suffered another tough loan spell. Signed from Lyon in 2019 for a club-record fee, the midfielder has never really lived up to his price tag but has undeniable quality on occasion.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice dubbed him a "street footballer" when he faced him in West Ham colours, explaining:

“He is top. Just a street footballer on the pitch. He takes the ball anywhere, little flicks and tricks. Like he doesn’t care. He does everything so confidently.

“With players like that, you just have to let them play. Give them the freedom to go out and do whatever they want. When we played against Lyon in the Europa League, he was incredible. He’s a top player.”

But he has never been able to replicate that at Tottenham, and now his time in north London is rapidly reaching its conclusion despite him still having a year left to run on his £200,000 a week deal with the club.

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By
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As per Football Insider, Spurs will kickstart their summer by trying to sell the midfielder "straight away" when he returns from Galatasaray, with there being no plans to reintegrate him into Postecoglou's squad.

Whether a buyer can be found is another matter, but with Ndombele not having featured for the Lilywhites since January 2022, a permanent departure is likely best for all parties.

Luis de la Fuente insists it is "not normal" that he has not signed a new contract as Spain's manager after leading the country to Euro 2024 glory.

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• Spain beat England in Euro 2024 final
• De la Fuente deal has not been extended
• Hits out at Spanish hierarchy

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  De la Fuente has won both the Nations League and Euro 2024 while in the Spain dugout, but he has not received a new contract after the double triumph. He has now claimed that the situation is "not normal" and insists a manager of the calibre of Luis Enrique would not be treated in such a manner.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  De la Fuente has also bemoaned his contract terms, as his salary is reportedly lower than most of his predecessors in the Spanish hotseat. He was linked with a potential move to manage the United States men's national team but opted against the change. Mauricio Pochettino was appointed instead.

• WHAT DE LA FUENTE SAID

  De la Fuente told Cadena SER, via Football-Espana: “It is not normal for a European champion to be without a contract. I don’t know if the same thing would have happened with Luis Enrique… for me, it is not normal for a European champion to be out of contract. I have had offers as usual.

  "What is not normal is that the reigning European champions, I don’t know if it has ever happened in history, are without a contract. I have the same conditions as when I was promoted from the U21s… It would have been fair if he had signed the contract already.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Spain play Denmark and Serbia in the Nations League during the international break as they defend their title. De la Fuente will want to back up his claim for improved terms with some positive results.

A £150,000-per-week ace could now reportedly leave Arsenal this summer after being left unhappy behind the scenes at Hale End, with the Gunners open to doing business over him.

Arsenal players who could leave before next season

There are many current squad members who are potentially facing their last few months as Arsenal players.

Arsenal hold talks with PSG and Simeone target who's also spoke with Arteta

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Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Kieran Tierney are all likely to depart the Emirates Stadium after spending last season on loan deals away from the club. Lokonga has even admitted he's likely to quit Arsenal, while there isn't much room for the likes of Tierney and Tavares in Mikel Arteta's star-studded eleven.

Aaron Ramsdale, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah have also been named by various reports as players who could leave Arsenal this summer, as sporting director Edu Gaspar plots a mini-overhaul of the squad.

Now, according to Football Insider, another player who Arsenal could look to offload is defender Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukraine international came under criticism last term, and has fallen down the pecking order behind both Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Zinchenko unhappy with Arsenal now open to selling

The outlet also claims that Zinchenko is "unhappy" at Arsenal and the club are open to selling him. The former Man City ace, on a reported £150,000-per-week, wants regular first-team football moving forward.

While the 27-year-old becomes linked with the exit door, some members of the media have rushed to his defence, and believe he could still fight his way back into Arteta's plans.

“Some of the criticism (of Zinchenko) is justified, but some is a bit harsh in my opinion," said journalist Charles Watts after one of Zinchenko's performances last season.

"When you look at what went wrong for Arsenal on Sunday for example, I’m not really sure Zinchenko was at the heart of it. But, judging by the amount of criticism that has come his way over the past few days, you would think he was. Yes, there were a few errors of judgement in the second half, one of which could easily have been very costly. But there were also good points in the first half which could easily have led to Arsenal opening the scoring.

"There are undeniable positives, but there are also obvious negatives. The thing is that right now, probably for the first time since he joined, the negatives are starting to outweigh the positives. Arsenal’s side has evolved at pace under Arteta. Last season Zinchenko was an essential part of it, but now his place in the starting XI is up for debate.

“I wouldn’t say we are definitely approaching the end of Zinchenko’s time at Arsenal. I still think he could have a key role to play in this squad, potentially even higher up the pitch where his defensive deficiencies could leave the team less exposed. He’s a quality footballer who is having a difficult period, but Arteta believes in him and it’s far too early to write him off as an Arsenal player.”

Sunderland are none the wiser about who their next manager will be after fighting long and hard to be the side to finally get Will Still to manage in England.

Reportedly, it was nearly a done deal by all accounts, but it looks unlikely to happen now, as Sunderland resort back to square one in their lengthy hunt for a brand-new boss.

Whoever does take on the Black Cats job post will have a tall order on their hands attempting to keep Jack Clarke rooted in Wearside, with Russell Martin's Southampton reportedly eyeing up the electric left winger after an explosive personal season of 15 goals was amassed, even with Sunderland struggling to finish in the top half of the table.

If they do manage to rake in millions for Clarke to exit, the stuttering Championship outfit might not have to break the bank to find their replacement, with one forward potentially available for free.

Sunderland interested in cheap Clarke replacement

The Sun reported in the middle of April that the Black Cats were keen on the services of current Oxford United man Josh Murphy, having taken note of his blistering form for the U's towards the back end of their eventual promotion-winning season.

Interest hasn't slowed down from many a Championship suitor since then, with Murphy only making himself more of an asset to go after when his two strikes in the League One play-off final secured promotion for Des Buckingham's underdogs.

Oxford are attempting to keep Murphy situated at the Kassam Stadium for their unexpected voyage into the second tier next season, with a contract confirmed as being offered to him via their retained list, but the allure of Portsmouth, West Bromwich Albion and others sniffing around could prove too much for the ex-Norwich City attacker to resist.

How Murphy compares to Clarke

Once costing £11m to sign when Cardiff City paid this extortionate fee for his services in 2018 after walking out on his boyhood Canaries, Sunderland would be fools not to go after an older and cheaper Murphy now who is coming into his own again so late into his up-and-down playing days.

Despite falling short in some comparative aspects when glancing at the table above, Murphy – over a full season at his rampaging best in the Championship – could begin to match Clarke's electric numbers.

All of Murphy's strikes have come this calendar year after a slow start to the campaign for the U's, before excelling under Buckingham's guidance, leading to praise coming from the likes of his manager that he is a "wonderful person" to work with.

Having had to rebuild his career after being touted as the next best thing at Norwich would also mean he's an experienced and screwed-on head that the youthful Sunderland squad could latch onto, especially if the focal point of Clarke moves on from the left-hand side.

Murphy has terrorised League One defences down this same side in 2023/24, meaning he could be the ideal replacement.

It also feels like a risk-free signing to a degree as, no doubt, the potential millions generated from the sale of Clarke would also buy Sunderland more flashy and expensive attackers, alongside Murphy coming in on a free transfer.

Running rings around a bamboozled Bolton Wanderers defence at Wembley, with his energy and bravery advancing forward mirroring Clarke's trickery, Sunderland could strike gold gambling on the 29-year-old to come good making the jump-up in their star winger's potential absence.

Next Sunderland manager: Who could replace Mike Dodds?

With Mike Dodds’ interim spell as Sunderland’s boss coming to an end, who is in the running to be their next manager?

By
Kelan Sarson

May 29, 2024