AliousSunderland’s Deadline Day Move for Kasey McAteer Rejected as Ruud Van Nistelrooy Explains Why
Sunderland’s late push to sign Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer on deadline day ultimately fell flat, with Foxes boss Ruud Van Nistelrooy shedding light on why the move was a non-starter.
Heading into the final hours of the January transfer window, Sunderland were eager to bolster their options on the wing. The club faced intense interest from Brighton for teenage sensation Tommy Watson, submitting several bids in hopes of securing the 18-year-old’s services. Although Brighton’s pursuit ended without success, Sunderland’s focus shifted toward adding depth on the flanks, anticipating potential squad changes.
One of the names on their radar was Leicester City’s Kasey McAteer. Sunderland reportedly submitted a loan offer with an optional £10 million purchase clause. However, their approach was swiftly rejected by Leicester, and Van Nistelrooy has now explained the reasoning behind the decision.
**Van Nistelrooy Reveals McAteer’s Importance to Leicester**
Despite McAteer’s limited Premier League involvement this season—having played just 383 minutes—Van Nistelrooy made it clear that the 23-year-old remains a key figure in his plans. Speaking to *Leicester Mercury*, the Dutchman stated:
*”One thing that was very clear for me was that nobody was going out unless someone else was coming in. That’s something I think everyone can understand. I’m here to strengthen the squad, not to weaken it by letting players leave without proper replacements.”*
Van Nistelrooy went on to emphasize McAteer’s value to the team, adding: *“Kasey is a very important part of our squad. His versatility on the wings and potential impact this season made it impossible for us to let him go.”*
**Sunderland’s Loan-to-Buy Strategy Hits a Wall**
Sunderland’s Director of Football, Kristjaan Speakman, had success earlier in the window with the high-profile loan signing of Enzo Le Fee from Roma. That deal included an obligation to buy if Sunderland secured promotion, a structure that worked well in that instance.
However, the same strategy didn’t yield similar results elsewhere. Speakman attempted multiple loan-to-buy deals during January, but many clubs, including Leicester, preferred immediate, guaranteed fees to allow for swift reinvestment in their squads. While the flexible approach proved effective with Roma, replicating it for other targets proved far more challenging than anticipated.
In the end, Sunderland’s inability to secure McAteer highlighted the limitations of their transfer strategy, particularly when dealing with clubs reluctant to lose key squad members without immediate replacements.
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