Sunderland eyeing move for Portuguese playmaker
Sources have suggested that Sunderland are considering a move for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Adrien Silva in an effort to push on in their Premier League ascension.
The central midfielder is currently on loan at Academica and the Black Cats would need parent club, Sporting Lisbon, to recall the player before they could complete any deal for his signature.
Silva’s loan deal isn’t due to expire until July and Martin O’Neill’s side would have to meet the middleman’s £5m asking price as well as agree personal terms before the Lisbon outfit would consider recalling their charge.
The 22 year-old is a product of The Lions youth academy and graduated in 2007 before being promoted to the senior squad.
However, Silva failed to tie down a regular spot with Sporting and was farmed out to Israeli side Maccabi Haifa for the first six months of the 2010-11 season, proceeding to complete a temporary deal at Academica for the second half of the campaign.
The Portuguese outfit must have seen something in the playmaker and decided to take Silva on loan for this season also.
The club are also seeing better returns on their acquisition this term and after 22starts with Academica this campaign, the French-born midfielder has scored eight goals and recorded one assist.
Sporting Lisbon won’t want to antagonize their relationship with their league rivals but should his £5m valuation be met by Sunderland, they may not have a chance but to recall the player and sell in what they could see as good business.
