Wickham Sold on Bruce's Ambition
Wednesday, 29th Jun 2011 17:41

Exiting striker Connor Wickham says Sunderland manager Steve Bruce’s ambitions for the Black Cats sold him on his switch to the North-East. Wickham signed a four-year contract on Wearside earlier today, the clubs having agreed an initial fee of £8.1 million rising beyond £12 million via appearance and achievement clauses, while the Blues will get a percentage of any profit the Black Cats make if and when they sell the 18-year-old.

Wickham said: "It's really exciting for me. Once the fee was agreed and I met with the manager, he told me all about the club's ambitions and I was sold. Everything's done and dusted, so I'm looking forward to getting going.

"I'm confident in myself and my ability. I know what I can do and am capable of. I know I am coming to a big club and hopefully I can continue doing what I have been at Ipswich.

"The last couple of years have been enjoyable for me. To break into the team at Ipswich, do what I did and get recognised so young was good for me.

"I just got my head and down and played my football, rather than letting myself get distracted by anything off the pitch."

The England U21 international says he’s pleased to have got the deal sorted: "I've never felt pressured or intimidated by matters off the pitch but I'm relieved to have everything done.

"Now I'm looking forward to getting back into training, getting back into football and meeting the lads. I know what I can do. I'll work hard, do the best I can and get my head down."

With the likes of former Town loanee Jack Colback in the Sunderland squad, Wickham is confident he’ll quickly get used to life on Wearside: "I've got the right people around me to help me out and keep my feet on the floor.

"I think I will settle quite easily up here; I'm looking forward to getting to know the people, the area and the club."

Black Cats manager Bruce says he's pleased to get his man: "A number of top sides have been chasing Connor for some time now, so naturally we are absolutely delighted he has chosen to come to Sunderland.

"He's still very young, but at 6ft 3in, he's a physical presence. With his height and style of play, he will offer us a threat in front of goal and complement our existing strikers.

"We have been watching him for a while now and he is improving and developing all the time. He's a great prospect and I'm sure our supporters will love watching him play."

Meanwhile, it's reported that Wickham's contract at Sunderland includes a clause which would allow him to move on should one of the bigger Premier League clubs offer a fee at a set level in a year's time if the Black Cats haven't gained a European place.

Prior to this week's move, Wickham had been understood to favour a switch to Liverpool, the club he supported as a boy.

Elsewhere, Dagenham and Redbridge winger Danny Green, a reported Town target earlier in the summer, has completed his move to Charlton Athletic.

Photo: Action Images

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ITFCMonk added 22:55 - Jun 29 Not too sure about the price.. i hope it doesnt involve many monthly installments
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BrettenhamBlue added 00:59 - Jun 30 Sunderland have ambition. Much more than us.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:43 - Jun 30

Sorry to see Connor go, but the ideal world I would have wished for doesn't exist. Having read most of the contributions on here, I see this more and more as a win-win for ITFC: If CW doesn't live up to expectations, then we got good money. If he does, then he will be off to L'pool for double the fee and we increase our % further. The other scenario - that S'land get into Europe - doesn't seem that likely to me. Anyway, I wish CW well. He's only 18, so you can't blame him for wanting to "progress." But if I were a S'land fan, I'd be a bit worried about commitment to the cause, as other have already pointed out. In a year's time, S'lund fans could well be moaning about the pull of money and the lack of loyalty in football, just like some of us are doing right now.