8:36am Saturday 14th July 2007
By Paul Fraser
JUST hours after Sunderland's new signing Michael Chopra promised to brush off the controversy surrounding his arrival by vowing to win over the hearts and minds of supporters, manager Roy Keane was told he is on the verge of another £5m-plus signing last night.
After confirming that former Newcastle striker Chopra had passed a medical and signed a four-year deal on Wearside, it has emerged the Black Cats have been informed Kieran Richardson wants to follow him to the Stadium of Light.
Richardson, the young England winger, has informed Keane that he is ready to decline interest from Manchester City and complete a £5.5m switch from Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old was due to fly out with the United squad on a four-game Far East tour, although he is now expected to stay in England and complete the formalities early next week.
Provided the Richardson deal is concluded, it will mean Keane has spent £14.5m on four summer signings and he is showing no signs of stopping before Tottenham arrive to start the new campaign on August 11.
The former West Ham trainee, who has eight England caps, has been made available for transfer following the arrivals of Nani and Anderson.
As well as offering versatility, his main position is on the left of midfield, an area Keane has been looking to fill ahead of Sunderland's eagerly-awaited Premiership return.
Richardson made only 12 starts and 12 substitute appearances for the champions last season, although his international appearances highlight his potential.
That deal is yet to be tied up; the Chopra transfer, however, is complete.
The 23-year-old, who moved from Newcastle to Cardiff for just £500,000 a year ago, must now face a divided Sunderland support.
Some supporters wish him all the best, while others are furious that a £5m fee has been paid out on a young man from Gosforth who was brought up a Magpie.
But Chopra, whose tally of 22 goals in the Championship was only bettered by Colchester's Jamie Cureton last season, feels he has the character and personality to succeed, where many want him to fail.
And he is determined to become a hero at the Stadium of Light, rather than a villain, as Lee Clark did when he was photographed wearing a derogatory T-shirt aimed at Sunderland fans in 1999.
"I'm a North-Eastern lad, I know there's a lot of players that have come across the river over the years. Paul Bracewell did it. Bob Stokoe, Bobby Moncur and Len Shackleton all did it," said Chopra. "Hopefully I can add my name alongside them because they're legends.
"I dream of playing Premier League football and Roy Keane has given me that chance. I know there's going to be a few doubters out there, but if I can give 100 per cent every game and score goals for Sunderland, then hopefully I can win some of their hearts."
As well as the rivalry which exists between his roots and his new employers there have also been question marks raised about the fee paid to Cardiff for a striker that has only conjured up one Premiership goal.
That was, ironically, against Sunderland.
But, having failed to deliver on the first team stage at St James' Park, he is determined to finally fulfil his potential at the top - under the watchful eye of Keane.
"I'm a striker and strikers are always under pressure to score goals, no matter which division you're in," he said. "But I've always been a natural scorer so I don't really feel any pressure. The challenge to play for Roy Keane was too good to turn down."
Chopra's promise to score goals for Sunderland is one Keane is confident can be achieved.
"I'm delighted Michael has joined us," said the Sunderland manager, who turned to Chopra after pulling out of his pursuit of David Nugent. "I'm very confident he will score goals for this club."
With Richardson on his way and Chopra on board, along with Russell Anderson and Greg Halford, Keane remains in the hunt for more new faces.
Another striker remains imperative, while he is still pursuing new defenders. A goalkeeper, however, is still a priority.
Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon has been encouraged to make the move to Sunderland by his former team-mate at Tynecastle, Antti Niemi.
Sunderland had an offer of £8m rejected this week but Hearts are looking for nearer to the British goalkeeper record £10.8m paid by Manchester United for Fabien Barthez a decade ago.
And Niemi, now at Fulham, said: "Only time will tell if Sunderland can be up there with Arsenal and Liverpool, but I think they'll do well. Signing Craig would send a message that they mean business.
"Sunderland would still be a step forward for Craig and if he does well, who knows where he might end up. He will have a manager more than capable of putting in a good word for him at the club he once skippered, Manchester United."
Sunderland are opening their pre-season training sessions in Ireland to the public. Fans will be able to see Keane's side in action prior to each of the three games.
Turnstiles will open one hour prior to training and access will be on a first-come first-served basis - there is no charge for entry.
Training sessions: Friday July 27, Malahide Utd, 3:30pm; July 29, Turners Cross, 3:30pm; July 31, Terryland Park, 3:30pm.
Sheffield United manager Bryan Robson will decide this weekend whether to offer Cameroon trialist Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe a deal at Bramall Lane. The 28-year-old attacking midfielder, previously at Celtic, is a free agent and has Robson, who said: ''He has great pedigree - he came through Auxerre's academy and he was there for ten years."
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