Gus Poyet was somewhat known for pulling a rabbit out of the hat when it came to transfers.
The former Sunderland manager appeared to have a fairly decent knowledge of players on the continent, with signings such as Nacho Scocco and Oscar Ustari instantly springing to mind as signings labelled ‘unknown quantities’.
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Photo by Nigel Roddis Getty ImagesAs another transfer window was upon us by the middle of July eleven years ago, names were beginning to circulate in the local media and with a bid for Swansea City’s Ashley Williams failing,
reports were suggesting that we were looking across the Atlantic for a new defender.
This is where the name Matt Besler was first heard in the North East.
He’d impressed for the United States at the 2014 World Cup and had caught the eye of a number of clubs in England and across Europe — including Sunderland, and with speculation swirling, he succumbed to speaking to the media about his predicament.
Whilst admitting he was in no rush to leave Sporting Kansas City, he revealed that Sunderland had made an offer and so urged his employers to make up their mind as to whether they were going to offload him so he could get on with the rest of his summer.
With an offer of around £3 million said to have been tabled by the club, Besler sought clarity on the matter.
I know that Sunderland put in an offer or are putting in an offer. We’re trying to get something done as soon as possible.
It’s a situation which needs to get resolved. I want to be staying in Kansas City if I’m going to stay. But if they’re going to sell me then I want to know as soon as possible.
It’s not just my decision; it’s the club’s if they want to sell me or not. But I would definitely have an input in a team.
Whether this was a strategy by Besler’s agent to spark a bidding war for his player or that the likes of ourselves and Fulham had genuine interest in the player remains uncertain, but as it transpired, Besler never left the US for the entire length of his career — making the suggestions that Sunderland had bid for him all the less likely.
One must think that if the club really did want the USA defender, a deal could’ve been complete fairly quickly, and Besler played for Sporting Kansas until 2020 before spending one season at Austin FC.
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