Sunderland Close To Signing Maniche From Atletico Madrid

Maniche’s nightmare at Atletico Madrid will all but certainly come to an end this summer as Sunderland move closer to completing a free transfer for the Portuguese.

According to The Sunday Sun, the Black Cats had been planning a swoop for Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Dunn before his nagging injury concerns this season forced Ricky Sbragia to reconsider his options.

And Spanish sports daily, AS, believes that the Mackems boss could instead opt for Maniche, who would be able to join the Stadium of Light outfit for free as his contract expires with Atletico at the end of the season.

Los Colchoneros confirmed several weeks ago that they would not be renewing the former Porto and Chelsea man’s contract and that they had even given permission to his agent to start looking for a new club.

Maniche looked to have won back his place in the Atleti team following a bust-up with then-coach Javier Aguirre over a year ago, but ever since Abel Resino took over the hot-seat at the Vicente Calderon from Aguirre in early February this year, he has been exiled from the squad altogether.

The Sunday Sun has reported that Sunderland, who had previously shown their interest in Maniche a year and a half ago, will offer the midfielder a contract sometime next week and he will join up with the squad on July 6.

KS Leong, Goal.com