Black Cats Target ‘Won’t Sign In An Earthquake’… Then Does.

Younes Kaboul has become Sunderland's fourth signing of the summer, arriving from Spurs for a fee of around £3 million, despite previously turning the club down in acrimonious circumstances. The 29-year-old has signed a 4-year-deal and looks likely to slot into the Black Cats' defence alongside fellow new signing Seb Coates or John O'Shea, with Wes Brown seen as a backup choice. Sunderland had been locked in intense negotiations with Zenit over Nicolas Lombaerts earlier in the week, though various reports claimed the deal was dead after the player failed a medical. The Black Cats have wasted no time in moving onto other targets, and Kaboul arrived on Wearside on Thursday to complete a medical and seal the deal. At 6'4" the Frenchman was renowned for his pace at the back, despite being such a huge physical presence, and will be looking to nail down a starting spot after five years with Spurs led to just 89 league appearances due to injuries and generally falling out of favour. Kaboul actually rejected a move to Sunderland in 2008, with his agent stating that the defender wouldn't join Sunderland 'even if there was an earthquake'. Instead, he joined Portsmouth, but two season's later the south coast club spurned more advances from the Black Cats who bid £5 million plus Anton Ferdinand in 2010. The defender returned to Spurs, though he is now set to join up with his new Sunderland teammates on their tour of America.