Transfer Rumours

Claims Sunderland are targeting Newcastle’s longest serving player

Claims this morning that Sunderland are considering a surprise one year contract for Steve Harper.

Their best player last season, Vito Mannone, is reported to be considering a move after his form over the course of last season alerted a number of clubs.

Harper would be potentially a budget short-term measure to give the mackems some depth in the goalkeeping department, according to the reports in The Sun.

Last season saw Hull relegated and Steve Harper not offered a new contract, although he didn’t do too badly on a personal level, his 10 Premier League appearances helped Hull gather 11 points.

One of the more bizarre Newcastle United careers, the goalkeeper’s twenty years service saw his break the longstanding record of nineteen years at St James Park, which was shared by Frank Hudspeth and Bill McCracken, both early in the twentieth century.

Denied many opportunities in a large part due to the outstanding Shay Given, fans were split as to whether Harper was displaying loyalty or lack of ambition by hanging around Newcastle United.

The highlight of his time at the club was surely the part he played in the club’s recovery from relegation under Mike Ashley.

Steve Harper made 45 appearances in that promotion year and then a further 18 in the Premier League the following season, as Newcastle found relative stability after the chaos that saw them relegated.

Good luck to Steve Harper in the future but not of course next season if he ends up down the road.