Premiership: Black Cats pounce for Swedish star

Sunderland are today on the verge of completing a £1.5million swoop for Swedish international Joachim Bjorklund.

The 30-year-old Venezia player is on Wearside undergoing a medical as manager Peter Reid attempted to strengthen his squad before tomorrow’s Barclaycard Premiership clash with derby rivals Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.

Bjorklund, a former international team-mate of Black Cats midfielder Stefan Schwarz, has won 75 caps for his country and is a contender for this summer’s World Cup finals.

Reid’s swoop comes as joint record signing Emerson Thome struggles to shake off the effects of a troublesome knee injury while Slovakian international Stanislav Varga searches for the form which he showed during his early months in England.

Bjorklund began his career at Osters IF before joining SK Brann in 1990 and then IFK Gothenburg in 1993.

After two years in Italy, he moved to Scotland and Rangers. But after 59 games for the Ibrox club, he joined Vicenza in Italy and then after a spell in Spain and Valencia, opted for Serie A last summer.

Reid has been under pressure to spend in recent weeks as Sunderland’s expected drive towards European qualification has failed to materialise.

However, his critics have been yearning for more creativity in midfield and greater potency in attack, and it remains to be seen whether Bjorklund’s acquisition will satisfy them.

The Wearsiders have been linked with big-name strikers Carsten Jancker, John Carew and Dwight Yorke in recent weeks, and although the latest dip into the transfer market would take Reid’s spending in the last two months to £6million after his record-equalling £4.5million move for American midfielder Claudio Reyna, sections of the red and white faithful may remain unconvinced.

Venezia did not play him against Inter Milan yesterday because a deal had already been reached with Sunderland.

Bjorklund said: ‘‘For me, it is the best solution on a sporting level.

‘‘After playing in Italy and Spain, I’m happy to have an experience in the Premiership.

‘‘I don’t want to go on loan. It wasn’t right for me and my family, especially for my wife because we are expecting a baby in the next few weeks.’’