Black Cats swoop for Elliott
SUNDERLAND are set to sign Manchester City striker Stephen Elliott.
The 20-year-old still has a year left on his contract at the Premiership club but the Black Cats are hoping to sign him for a nominal fee and look to team up a natural goalscorer with centre-forward Kevin Kyle next season.
Elliott is very much an unknown outside Manchester, but he was the leading scorer for the Blues' Reserves side last season and is regarded as among the best prospects at the Premiership club.
He made two substitute appearances for City last season - against Bolton and Middlesbrough.
But he has grown frustrated at his inability to force his way into the first team ahead of established stars like Robbie Fowler, Nicolas Anelka, Paulo Wanchope and Jon Macken.
Now Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy is hoping that a move to Sunderland could ignite the youngster's career and help fire the Black Cats back into the top flight.
Elliott scored 11 goals in 15 games last season for the club's second string and is a Republic of Ireland Under 21 international.
But opportunities have been limited for him in a season of struggle for City with even Kevin Keegan admitting that he has been annoyed at not being able to blood the youngster.
The City manager said: "Years ago, towards the end of the season, we would have looked at giving the youngsters a chance to see if they could handle it.
"We would be looking at giving Stephen Elliott and our left-back Stephen Jordan chances in the first team. But because it was vitally important for us in terms of finance that we stay in the Premiership we have been unable to do that.
"It's frustrating but the earliest they'll have an opportunity is pre-season."
http://www.sunderlandtoday.co.uk/Vie...ticleID=799344
The kind of player they're crying out for really. Unfortunately for Elliot, he has the potential to be a really top striker but breaking into a side with the high profile strikers City have will be difficult, so this could be a good move for him. It will probably also mean, provided he preforms, he'll emerge as an option for Ireland quicker if he's playing for Sunderland, as he'll get more games probably.
