David Moyes
David Moyes has continued his Sunderland revolution with the signings of Paddy McNair and Donald Love from former club Manchester United.
Sunderland have paid a total fee of £5.5 million for the pair with both defenders signing four-year deals with the Black Cats.
Moyes, who succeeded new England manager Sam Allardyce at the Stadium of Light this summer, had already added Chelsea’s Papy Djilobodji to his Sunderland squad with McNair and Love becoming his second and third signings.
The two 21-year-old defenders were both on the fringes of the United squad and new Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho saw no place for them in his plans this season. It means they reunite with Moyes at Sunderland just days before the start of the new Premier League campaign.
“Paddy is a young, athletic player who is improving all the time,” Moyes said.
“He has experience for Northern Ireland and we want to bring as many international players to the club as we can.”
Moyes gave McNair his chance to impress when he was United manager and although the defender travelled to Euro 2016 with his country this summer, he has stalled since his Old Trafford breakthrough.
Both he and Love will offer Moyes versatility in that they can play in midfield and defence. After announcing the double swoop, Moyes believes the pair will be huge assets to Sunderland for years to come.
On the deal for Love, who made his senior debut for United last season and played in both the Premier League and Europa League, Moyes said:
“Donald comes highly recommended and is another young player who I hope can develop and improve here.
“I want to add some young players to the squad as well as some senior players and both of them have got really good potential and the opportunity to improve.
“I want to bring in players who are here for the long-term as well as the short and hopefully these two are here for the long-term.”
The arrival of McNair and Love follows the £8m deal for Senegal defender Djilobodji and will further fuel speculation that Lamine Kone could be on his way out of the club.
The 27-year-old trained on Wednesday despite Everton remaining keen on the £18m-rated centre-back. Kone has grown frustrated that the improved contract he believed he would be offered is yet to appear.
Sunderland fans are desperate for the former Lorient player to stay, but with Chelsea among a series of clubs also monitoring his situation, their hopes could yet be dashed.
Meanwhile, the Black Cats are also hopeful of landing United midfielder Adnan Januzaj on a season-long loan deal with their efforts to strengthen the squad Moyes inherited from Allardyce finally starting to bear fruit.
Moyes and Sunderland face a tough start to their Premier League campaign when they visit Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City tomorrow. — mailonline..