Sunderland set to get Paulo Da Silva

Jul 5 2009 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

PARAGUAY international defender Paulo Da Silva is on his way to Sunderland.

The Black Cats are snapping up the 29-year-old centre-back for nothing after his contract at Mexican club Toluca expired.

Da Silva was in talks with Toluca about a new deal, but Steve Bruce – eager to clinch his first Sunderland signing – stepped in.

“The English team’s offer was not within our reach,” a Toluca club statement admitted last night.

Bruce’s contacts in Central America, where he is also eyeing Honduran striker Humberto Suazo, alerted him to Da Silva’s availability.

Capped 53 times by his country, Da Silva has some experience of playing in Europe, having spent time in Italy with Perugia and Venezia early in his career.

However, it his more recent achievements which appealed to Bruce.