Spurs To Fight It Out With Bolton For £8million Richardson?

*

Sunderland winger Kieran Richardson is a January transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp, with Bolton Wanderers also keen on the England International, according to The Mirror.

24-year-old Richardson was persuaded to join the Black Cats by former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane, when the Irishman took Sunderland into the Premier League in 2007. However, with Keane walking out of the Stadium of Light earlier in December, Richardson has reportedly become unsettled at the Premiership club and is looking for a move away from the North East.

Redknapp, who is also understood to be close to a deal for Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing is believed to be ready to offer Sunderland £8million for Richardson in January, but will face competition from Trotters manager Gary Megson, who also wants Richardson at the Reebok Stadium.

Spurs have identified the left side of midfield as an area that needs strengthening next month, with Aaron Lennon filling the void for Redknapp in recent weeks. While it is believed that Downing is the main target for Tottenham, Redknapp is considering Richardson as an alternative, with Boro manager Gareth Southgate wanting Gareth Bale as part of any deal to allow £15million rated Downing to leave the Riverside Stadium.

Tottenham are reluctant to let Welsh International Bale leave White Hart Lane, which has led them to Richardson, but with Bolton also interested it remains to be seen whether the winger opts for Spurs or Wanderers or decides to stay put at Sunderland in January.

Sunderland v West Brom Premier League Preview: Can The Baggies Pick Up 3 Points Against The Black Cats In This Crunch Relegation Clash?

*

Sunderland play, Tony Mowbray’s West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

The Black Cats go into this clash without a manager and in the relegation zone, having only won two and lost six of their last eight games in the Premier League. Caretaker manager Ricky Sbragia, will be hoping that Sunderland can pick themselves up after losing 1-0 to Manchester United last week in the dying seconds at Old Trafford. However, Sunderland will be targeting all three points to get them back on track against a West Brom side who, are also struggling.

West Brom go into this game with Sunderland, having only managed to take two points from their last nine matches, which has left the Baggies rooted to the bottom of the Premiership. The Baggies biggest problem this season has been scoring goals, with West Brom only managing to score three on their travels away from the Hawthorns in the eight Premier League games they have played, while conceding thirteen. Mowbray needs a win badly from this bottom of the table clash and will hope to take advantage of the unrest surrounding the North East club at the moment.

Sunderland will be without Darren Ward (back) and David Connolly (groin) for the visit of West Brom, but will be boosted by the return of captain Dean Whitehead, who is expected to recover from a dead leg in time for this all-important game with the Baggies.

Mowbray has been dealt a hammer blow this week, with the knee injury to Ishmael Miller, who will be out for seven months. Mowbray has preferred Miller as his lone-striker for most of the season to date, with Roman Bednar likely to take his place. Other than that the only other absentee, will be long-term injury Neil Clement, who is still ruled out with his own knee problems.

Sunderland: (from) Gordon, Bardsley, McCartney, Tainio, Nosworthy, Edwards, Malbranque, Cisse, Richardson, Diouf, Whitehead, Miller, Murphy, Collins, Jones, Leadbitter, Yorke, Reid, Chimbonda, Healy, M’Voto, Ferdinand, Hartley, Fulop, Dowson, Meyler, Henderson, Prica, Colgan

West Bromwich Albion: (from) Carson, Hoefkens, Robinson, Cech, Barnett, Koren, Greening, Bednar, Brunt, Beattie, Kim, MacDonald, Dorrans, Pele, Kiely, Teixeira, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Morrison, Valero, Donk, Worral

Man City, Hull & Sunderland Target Kazim-Richards Eyes Premier League Return

• 
  

Turkish International Colin Kazim-Richards has revealed that he would love a return to the Premier League from Turkish side Fenerbahce, with Hull City, Sunderland and Manchester City all reportedly interested in the former Sheffield United player.

22-year-old Kazim-Richards has risen to prominence since he joined Fenerbahce from the Blades in 2007, which has seen the player, who started his career at Bury star in EURO 2008 during the summer and become an integral part of the Turkish sides Champions League campaign this season.

Kazim-Richards is a crowd favourite at the Sari Kanaryalar, but despite this is still keen on a return to England, with the winger, who is valued at around £4million wanted by Premiership trio Man City, Hull and Roy Keane’s Black Cats.

The former Brighton player has also responded to criticism that he has a bad reputation, something that Kazim-Richards claims has followed him since a public spat with Seagulls boss Mark McGhee, but insists that it is unfounded and would love a return to the Premier League to show what he can do.

“A lot of people had question marks over me in England because rumours were spread in football that I was a bad apple following my time at Brighton,” he told the Daily Mirror.

“I had a problem with Mark McGhee there and the press seized on that and it seemed to follow me wherever I went.

“But if I was a troublemaker why would Fenerbahce have signed me?

“They are maybe in the top five best supported teams in the world.

“They have shown they can get some of the world's best. They wouldn't waste their time if I was trouble.

“I come from East London and if people have a go I have a go back. But I've played in the Champions League against Arsenal and Chelsea and also in the Euros.

“I don't think there is a doubt I'm a better player since leaving England. I'd love to come back and show people what I can do.”