Sunderland set to get Paulo Da Silva

Jul 5 2009 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

In 2007, Da Silva was named in the South American team of the season – or the “Ideal XI” – and was then voted Mexico’s Player of the Year in leading Toluca to the league title a year later.

He said his goodbyes to his Toluca team-mates yesterday morning, before flying to Wearside. Born in the Paraguayan capital Asuncion, Da Silva played for his country at the 1997 World Youth Championships, and was part of their 2006 World Cup squad.

Da Silva compensates for his relative lack of height – he is not quite 5ft 11in – with an excellent reading of the game and decent pace.

l Cardiff have completed the signing of Michael Chopra from Sunderland for a club-record fee.

The former Newcastle star joined Sunderland from Cardiff in the summer of 2007 but failed to pin down a first-team place at the Stadium of Light and twice returned to Wales on loan.

The striker’s most recent loan deal at the Coca-Cola Championship side expired at the end of last season, but Cardiff have now exercised their option to buy the 25-year-old for a fee believed to be in the region of £4million.

Chopra, who agreed a three-year deal, told Cardiff’s official website: “I’m really glad it’s all sorted now and, like all the other lads, I’m excited and determined to go that extra mile to gain promotion.”