£13m Cisse deal - and well worth it!

Sep 14 2008 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

DJIBRIL CISSE will become the most expensive player in Sunderland’s history if he wins a permanent move to the Stadium of Light.

The French forward signed a one-year temporary deal when he left Marseille at the end of August.

But if Cisse impresses, Roy Keane will have to cough up £13 million — crushing the record £9 million fee he paid for goalkeeper Craig Gordon last summer.

“If the deal becomes permanent he will be our most expensive signing but the transfer record is there to be broken,” said Keane.

“I will be happy to break our transfer record on him. He was fine with the deal. If it had dragged on we could have missed out on him.

“It is good for both parties. He is a signing that shows we are raising the bar.

“If he’s fit and firing on all cylinders, he will be one of the best strikers in the Premier League.

“He is a good lad. He is bubbly, he looks good in training. He is working his socks off and fitting in with the other players. He is a talented boy, no doubt about it.

“We have a deal in place. The loan deal benefits everybody. He is still getting his match fitness up. We have to give him a certain kind of service. Once he gets fitter, he will score goals for us.”

Keane has admitted he WILL play a part in finding a replacement for chief executive Peter Walker, who resigned last week and will leave Sunderland at the end of the season.

His involvement highlights the stunning difference with the running of internal affairs at neighbouring Newcastle.

“I had some discussions with Niall and some of the owners last night,” he said. “It is more important for Niall. He will be more hands on with him. We have to get someone in who can make deals happen, knows his football and is good with numbers. It is a massive role.

“Peter did a brilliant job. Perhaps now the club will go in a slightly different direction. They have to look at the commercial side and we underestimate that.

“I am sure I will challenge the new man, in a nice way. It is a good thing. I don’t think it will be Jack Warner but I hope he applies!”

Keane also revealed Michael Chopra is back in training after a spell at the Sporting Chance Clinic in Hampshire.

“He is fine now and he has trained really well,” he added. “He finishes his suspension after the Wigan game. I have a lot of time for Chops.

“We have stood by him and we will continue to do so. Everybody has difficult times. We are more than happy to support him.

“That is what we are doing and we hope to see the benefits of it over the next few months.”