Is There More to the Collapse of the Fer Deal?

This week saw yet another injury problem hinder Sunderland’s summer transfer plans in the form of QPR attacking midfielder Leroy Fer. It is not the first this summer after Sunderland pulled out of a deal to sign Nicholas Lombaerts in the eleventh hour.  So do these deals, or lack there of, signify change at Sunderland Football Club?

Last summer Sunderland recruited the likes of Billy Jones, Ricky Alvarez and Jack Rodwell. Three players who all have one thing in common. Injuries. Perhaps Jack Rodwell is the strongest and most publicised example of the three. A premier league winner at Manchester City, the former Everton man arrived with a pedigree that would catch the eye of most supporters. Although it would be his ability to stay match-fit which would determine his success on Wearside. Twenty-six appearances and three league goals later the stats don’t look too grimacing. Although, persistent injuries over the early stages of a heavy winter period and towards the back end of the season prevented fans from seeing much return on that £10 million price tag.

Jack Rodwell fits into scenario A alongside Billy Jones. A player who joined on a free transfer from West Bromwich Albion with many fans labelling him a fan favourite upon departure, mainly due to his high levels of enthusiasm and work rate on the pitch. This was of course when he was on the pitch, proving to be another player who joined the club with shaky injury record hanging over him.

Enter scenario B. Ricky Alvarez. Who joined on a season long loan from Inter Milan. Instantly labeled the architect of the team, brought in to fix the lack of creativity in the team since the departures of Fabio Borini and Stephane Sessegnon. He went on to make five starts and never actually completed a game. His time was so poor on Wearside that parent club Inter and Sunderland are battling with FIFA as to who must own the player.

Now as Sunderland enter the latter stages of the window it does appears the club has taken extra caution when conducting their business. Last summer’s business has certainly had a profound effect on the recruitment staff. Whilst the frustration of another deal falling short settles into fans head’s with the first game of the new season now just three days away. Surely this attentive approach is better than a repeat of last summer? In the case of Leroy Fer, a high wage and a substantial loan fee was not deemed a good enough risk for Sunderland to take. The club are now however left with the task of finding an alternative at a suitable price in the final month of the transfer window.