Sunderland boss Steve Bruce confirms Steed Malbranque close to St Etienne move
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce revealed midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Steed-Malbranque-c33957 was close to a Stadium of Light exit; with Ligue 1 side St Etienne his most likely destination. Bruce said he was looking to offload players in the transfer window after having signed as many
as nine players so far. The 31-year-old Frenchman is amongst the players who are set to leave the English Premier League side this summer.
The Sunderland manager had revealed earlier this week that the midfielder was in talks with the unnamed club and recent reports have revealed that Malbranque has already completed a medical with St Etienne. It is now only a matter of time before both clubs
make official announcements about the transfer.
Bruce said in an interview:
“Of course, Steed has done remarkably well for the club over the last two or three years, but it's maybe time that he moves on and we wish him well.
I think it's in advanced talks so maybe there'll be something to report there soon.
We've decided to say okay, which is inevitable with the amount of people we've brought in and the balance of the squad.”
According to Steve Bruce it was important to offload players as well bring in new ones in the transfer window. He felt it was for the betterment of the club that Malbranque left, having been with Sunderland for three years. After a total of ten years in
the English Premier League, the former French under-21 international returns to his homeland, where he will most likely end his career.
Malbranque joined Sunderland in the summer of 2008 on a long-term four year contract from London side Tottenham Hotspur. He has made a total of 111 appearances for the Black Cats in all competitions and has scored 2 goals. Along with Malbranque, Bruce revealed
there were two other players set to leave the club.
Bruce continued:
“I would envisage there'll be two or three leaving the club in the next few days.
It looks like Angeleri might be going back to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/George-McCartney-c14574 might be going out too.”
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