EUROPE IS THE TARGET

Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley has said that he is hoping that the club can push for a European place this season following the significant additions they have made to the squad in the summer transfer window. Players like Carlos Cuellar has arrived at the club on a free transfer, while many more are expected to follow suit due to the presence of the former Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill. The Irishman was appointed midway through the last season and he helped the club avoid relegation. Even more impressive was the fact that he helped them finish a respectable 13th position in the Premier league.

Even though he is not expected to have the same kind of transfer funds he used to experience at Aston Villa, it is expected to be significant than in previous seasons. The Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley has grown into one of the important members of the team. He has said that the additions that the club have made in the transfer window up until now and also till the end of the transfer window are going to be significant. He hopes that they will help the club finish in the European places. It has been a long time since Sunderland experienced European football.

“Carlos Cuellar has come in and bolstered the squad so it is great news for us and hopefully there are a few more faces on the way to help us head in the direction we want to go in this season. It is up to the players now to knuckle down in pre-season, work as hard as we can and be fresh for the start,” said Phil Bardsley ahead of the start of the new season. Players like John O’Shea, Kieran Richardson and a few others are expected to make way for the addition of new signings.