After seemingly weeks of frustration in the transfer market that began with the confusion over Fabio Borini's impending move to the North East from Liverpool, Sunderland might be on the verge of a break-through, and something of a coup. With reports that the end of the protracted Jack Rodwell saga - which at one point saw him linked to pretty much half of the Premier League - is about to come to an end, the Black Cats have been made strong favourites to sign the former Everton midfielder. That would see Gus Poyet's men beat both Southampton and Napoli to the signing in what would be a significant statement of intent for the North Easterners. Having made an ill-conceived move to Man City in the wake of impressive form for Everton, Rodwell has seen his chances limited, to say the least, as yet another English prospect was wasted at a club with too much money and too little intent to take advantage of the country's talents beyond stock-piling. His progress has consequently been pushed off track, though he remains talented, and if they are to take advantage of his availability, Sunderland will no doubt hope he remains as good a prospect, and isn't set to follow Dan Gosling onto the pile marked Unrealised Potential. Southampton were thought to be favourites, despite Sunderland reportedly being in talks for weeks, and Ronald Koeman is arguably the more in need of players, thanks to his board's over-willingness to cash in on most of the team's most marketable assets. But that could well stand in the way of a move for Rodwell, as any player in their right mind is going to reconsider the possibility of signing for a team that has just got rid of five of its greatest players and faces further mutiny from another want-away talent. If Sunderland can win the race to sign Rodwell - and that confirmation should come in the next couple of days if it is to come - they will have done tidy business and brought in one of the country's most highly-rated talents. Do you think Sunderland should sign Jack Rodwell? Share your thoughts below.
