10 Players You Didn't Know Sunderland Almost Signed

7. Brad Friedel

It is a testament to his professionalism, etiquette and sheer hunger for the game that 17 years after having first donned a pair of Premier League gloves, Brad Friedel is still here, serving as back-up to Spurs' Hugo Lloris at the astonishing age of 43 years old. A Premier League legend, having made 478 appearances for four different clubs, it had actually proved to be quite a struggle to get the former US keeper to the country in the first place. Having been denied work permits at Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United in 1994, the frustrated goalkeeper was left in limbo. The Department of Employment had threatened to crush his Premier League dreams by declaring that he hadn't represented his country enough to gain a work permit. The US keeper subsequently trained with Kevin Keegan's side before taking part in the 1995 US Cup and Copa America. In the immediate aftermath of the second tournament, Friedel tried once more to join an English side, but a refusal to grant a work permit scuppered the potential move to Sunderland.

''When I heard the application had at first been turned down I must admit I was in tears.'' - Brad Friedel.

For the future Premier League hero, he eventually received the work permit he craved at the turn of the year, as Liverpool swooped in with a £1.7 million offer. For Sunderland supporters, they can't help but feel a little cheated out of acquiring one of the finest professionals to ever grace the English top-flight due to a technicality.

''It's funny how the big clubs are able to get the work permits through.'' - Brad Friedel, March 2014.