Dunne interesting Sunderland

SUNDERLAND chairman Niall Quinn has admitted his interest in signing City captain Richard Dunne.

Dunne is City's longest-serving player but could become surplus to requirements at Eastlands this summer with boss Mark Hughes chasing a number of high-profile defensive signings, most recently being linked with Chelsea's John Terry.

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Said Niall Quinn:

"He is a player who is an excellent footballer but he is a Man City player until they say any different and we stand in a line," he said in the Daily Mail.

"We are not the only admirers but if there is a chink of light we will get through it if we can.

"We probably need a few men and spirited people to lift what we have and of course Richard Dunne would fit the bill."

It is strange to think how far Dunne's stock has fallen over the past season in particular. This time lalst year, we managed to fend off interest from Portsmouth and Tottenham (something that Hughes was very keen to do), yet the groundswell of opinion that formed about Dunne during 2008/09 was that his time had passed.

As good a servant and player (easy to forget four consecutive fans player of the year awards) Dunne has been, inevitably along the way where real progress is strived for, there will be casualties and sentiment can rarely be afforded.

If we are to add quality to the centre of defence, Dunne will undoubtedly be sidelined - something that could occur regardless if Vincent Kompany drops back - and given his age and that it is a World Cup year (with Ireland having a realistic shot at qualification) he may feel that he can ill afford to be sat on the sidelines for the most part.

I'm sure sides will covet him and that he will have plenty of options to pick from should he be made available. Unless we can add in that area though, he won't be going anywhere.