Cats in £8m Ferdinand bid

Aug 17 2008 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

SUNDERLAND have launched an £8 million bid to land West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand.

Roy Keane is ready to swoop after the defender, in the last year of his deal at Upton Park, turned down a new £40,000 per week contract with the Londoners.

Ferdinand sat out his side’s win over Wigan yesterday, apparently with a hamstring injury.

It is no secret that Keane wants to add another centre-back and has admitted defeat in his quest to get Manchester United to part with Jonny Evans.

And Ferdinand — younger brother of Keane’s ex-Man Utd team-mate Rio — is the man he has turned his attentions to.

The 23-year-old was linked with a move to Aston Villa over the summer but Martin O’Neill’s interest is at an end after he signed Carlos Cuellar from Rangers.

West Ham do not want Ferdinand to go but would rather sell him now than watch him leave for nothing next summer.

Sunderland are also looking for a striker and a left-back, and are refusing to take no for an answer in their pursuit of Benni McCarthy.

They had an £8m bid for the South African turned down by Blackburn last week but sources in the North West expect the Cats to return with an improved offer.

Keane is desperate to bring in another proven Premier League striker as he looks to boost his side’s firepower.