Sunderland agreed a deal to sign Kieran Richardson last night, after completing the signing of Michael Chopra earlier in the day. The club have agreed a fee of £5.5 million with Manchester United for Richardson, the midfield player who came through the ranks at Old Trafford. Richardson, who was also wanted by Everton and Manchester City, returned from playing for England in the European Under21 Championship finals to find that he was surplus to requirements at United after the arrival of Nani and Anderson this summer.
Richardson appeared alongside Roy Keane when the Sunderland manager played at United. Should he join, he will become Keane’s fourth signing after the arrivals of Chopra, Greg Halford and Russell Anderson.
Chopra moved from Cardiff City in a deal that could be worth up to £5 million. The forward, who scored 22 goals for the Coca-Cola Championship club last season, could face a rough ride at the Stadium of Light after he began his career at Newcastle United and scored in the most recent derby between the teams — in April 2006 — which Sunderland lost 4-1.
The 23-year-old was tipped to follow in the footsteps of Alan Shearer but was never able to establish himself in the senior side at St James’ Park. He scored three goals in 31 first-team appearances either side of loan spells at Watford, Nottingham Forest and Barnsley, and despite being offered a new one-year deal last summer, opted instead to join Cardiff.
After signing a four-year deal at Sunderland, he said: “I am a North East lad and I know the rivalry and I know that there are a lot of players that have gone across the river over the years. Paul Bracewell did it, as did Bob Stokoe [a player with Newcastle and manager with Sunderland] and Len Shackleton. Hopefully I can add my name alongside them because they are legends. I know there are going to be a few doubters but hopefully I can win some of their hearts.
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“Strikers are under pressure to score. I have always been a natural scorer so I do not really feel any pressure. The challenge to play for Roy Keane was too good to turn down. I remember playing for Newcastle United reserves against Manchester United and we knew that Roy Keane was coming back from a knee injury. We were all excited to play against him. So now I am hoping to learn from him.”