I can almost hear the tone of the call from Niall Quinn on 31 August now….
NQ: I hear Birmingham have pulled out. We’ll offer you £6 million.
DW: Shove it. I’d rather let him rot in the reserves than sell him for that.
NQ: Ok then. But doing that is going to cost you another £30k per week until January, by which time my offer will be £4 million. After all, he’ll not be match fit.
DW: But you’ve already screwed me over with Cattermole & Bramble. I’ll be damned if you are doing it again.
NQ: There’s our offer Mr Whelan, I think you’ll find it most unfair.
1 September. N’Zog unveiled as a Sunderland player in a £6m deal.