O’Shea still top of Quinn list

HAVING acquired one Republic of Ireland international already this summer, Niall Quinn says he would love to persuade John O’Shea to join Sunderland as well.

The Black Cats chairman and team boss Steve Bruce have already signed goalkeeper Keiren Westwood and also have O’Shea’s Manchester United teammate and Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson on their shopping list, but Quinn said securing the midfielder’s services is now looking less likely.

While reports yesterday suggested that a £3 million transfer should go through this week to end O’Shea’s 12-year association with United, Quinn said in Dublin yesterday that the deal is far from done yet.

“We’re in there trying hard,” said Quinn on negotiations to bring the 30-year-old O’Shea to the Stadium of Light. “John has had good family news over the last few days with the birth of his child. We’ve had to back off, which is only correct.

“We’ll see. The players are back in (tomorrow) and we’ll see if something can unravel. But, yes, we’re in there trying.”

Arsenal and Stoke City are also believed to be interested in the 70-times capped O’Shea.

“There is interest, naturally,” said Quinn on O’Shea being in demand. “All you can do is do your pitch, what you’re about and we would love if John chose us.”

On Gibson, Quinn was less hopeful.

“We’re a little bit further away from that one but we’ll see,” said Quinn. “Sometimes the press makes you think there was only ever one player on your mind, but Craig Gardner (whom they’ve signed) was there too. We’d certainly still like to but we’ll see. But we feel we’re getting closer with John.”

One Irish player definitely on Weirside already is Westwood, following his free transfer from Coventry City.

“We’re delighted to bring him in,” said Quinn. “We’re delighted he came to us because we fought off some big clubs. “I don’t think people realise that. There was a big queue of clubs in for him and he sees his future with us.

“He’s looked probably at people like (Darren) Bent whose career really got going with us. Jordan Henderson also, who has joined a massive club as well this summer.

“I think Keiren sees us as a club that is on that way up. He wants to play which is great, his determination to get in the team is what really pleased us in the negotiations.

“There is going to be great competition now. He is a terrific keeper. We’ve watched him I think even since Roy (Keane)’s time when we were getting reports on him when he went from Carlisle to Coventry. We’re really pleased to have him.”

And Quinn believes playing international football has brought Westwood on in double quick time.

“International football sharpens you up, it brings you to a new level. That’s great for us as well,” said Quinn. “At the moment there you have Craig (Gordon), an international goalkeeper, Simon (Mignolet) an international goalkeeper and now Keiren, an international goalkeeper. That’s fantastic for us.

“Of course the three of them won’t play every week, but it’s interesting for us now because that kind of competition never existed on our journey over the last few years and now it’s beginning to go like that all over.”

Quinn said that both Shay Given and even Ireland skipper Robbie Keane were considered as potential transfer targets as well, but Sunderland simply couldn’t match their wage demands.

“I’ll be honest about that. I’d take Shay in the morning, everyone knows that. But where we are as a football club right now, the wages didn’t suit us.”

Niall Quinn was in Dublin yesterday to promote Dublin Bus’s Schools Programme with 10-14-year-olds from East Wall Youth Group.