According to Christopher Lepkowski at the Birmingham Mail, West Bromwich defender Paul Scharner claimed that he had drawn interest from several other teams this summer. Scharner said,

“There were always different options for me and I always had a plan B regardless … I was never worried about finding a club. I had opportunities elsewhere so I was confident I could join a good club.

“West Bromwich is a traditional club even though their last few years have been marked by promotion and relegation … We need to stop this and establish ourselves in the Premier League as we did with Wigan.

“Negotiations lasted for three days and it was really hard work but all sides are now satisfied … And what we must not ignore is that, despite the global crisis, my financial situation has further improved.”

Sunderland is thought to be one of those teams that had a lot of interest in Scharner.

According to Sunderland’s official website, Sunderland have terminated the contract of Teemu Tainio by mutual consent. Tainio was not a free agent for long however as he has signed with Ajax.

According to Sunderland’s official website, Leicester City have signed 20-year-old Sunderland striker Martyn Waghorn for a fee that could rise to £3million

UPDATE: According to Sunderland’s official website, Sunderland have completed the signing of Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan. Gyan signed a four-year deal with the club and the fee is in excess of £13million.

August 28th, 2010 : According to Luke Edwards at The Journal, Sunderland are still looking to sign Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan. However the two clubs are far from a deal as they are still having trouble agreeing on a fee and Sunderland haven’t even discussed personal terms with Gyan.

August 13th, 2010 According to Ghanasoccernet.com, Sunderland are interested in signing Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan as a replacement for striker Kenwyne Jones. It is reported that Sunderland are going to offer around £10million for the 24-year-old.

UPDATE: According to Colin Tattum at the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham boss Alex McLeish admitted that he will not try to sign Charles N’Zogbia again. McLeish said,

“Is there a possibility? No. No, we are looking at other situations … I still want to improve the quality and the speed in the team, and we will try and do everything we can for the Birmingham fans before deadline day.

“It’s not so much being held to ransom or anything like that, I just think we’ve got to have principles, the club … Karren Brady told me once the hardest word to say in English was ‘no’ – and sometimes you’ve got to say ‘no’.”

August 28th, 2010: According to Birmingham’s official website, Birmingham had agreed to a deal with Wigan Athletic for Charles N’Zogbia but the deal fell apart as the club could not agree to a personal deal with the player. Manager Alex McLeish said,

“We did everything that was asked of us and then the goalposts were moved at the last minute.

“It was very important to us as a club to stick to our principles and look after the longterm interests of Birmingham City as we are custodians of the club … We remain ambitious and committed to adding extra quality to the playing squad but this deal became one that was not in the interests of the club.

“The Board worked with me extremely hard to try and get this one over the line and I thank them for their support.”

August 24th, 2010 According to Colin Tattum at the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham are prepared to offer another bid for Wigan Athletic footballer Charles N’Zogbia after having an £8million bid rejected earlier this summer.

Sunderland, Juventus, and Fiorentina are all thought to be interested in the 24-year-old as well.

According to Sunderland’s official website, Sunderland have agreed to send defender Matthew Kilgallon to Middlesbrough on a season-long loan. The deal is not official yet as there is still some paperwork to be dealt with.

According to Peter O’Rourke at Sky Sports News, Sunderland are interested in Wigan Athletic footballer Charles N’Zogbia and are planning to make a bid for him.

It is reported that Birmingham and Stoke City are also interested in the 24-year-old.

According to Marc Iles at The Bolton News, Bolton made a loan offer for Barcelona’s 19-year-old midfielder Thiago Alcantara that was rejected. It is reported that manager Pep Guardiola wants to hold onto the young creative midfielder.

Also, Bolton have not made any approach for Sunderland defender Matthew Kilgallon.

UPDATE: According to Sunderland’s official website, Sunderland have completed the signing of Nedum Onuoha on a season-long loan.

August 10th, 2010: According to Sky Sports News, Sunderland have agreed to a deal with Manchester City to sign Nedum Onouha on loan.

August 9th, 2010 According to Mark Douglas at The Journal, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce confirmed that he has had talks with Manchester City about defender Nedum Onuoha. Bruce said,

“We have had a conversation with Manchester City about Nedum. That was a few weeks ago. He is surplus and we will be kept informed … With the 25-man squad rule now as it is, there’s a few clubs that can be looked at and Manchester City are one. They have a big squad.

“It’s our job to look at the big clubs because they have bigger squads. Tottenham are another one too. They have big squads and when that is narrowed down to 25, then you have to have a look.”

UPDATE: According to ESPN Soccernet, Manchester United youngster Danny Welbeck is undergoing a medical for Sunderland as he looks set to join the club on a season-long loan. Manager Steve Bruce said,

“We’re very close to bringing in young Danny Welbeck from Manchester United … He’s a young man but he’ll fit into our squad fantastically well … We’ve got him here this morning [Thursday]. It looks like the formalities are done as long as he comes through the medical and we hope to announce him later on today.

“It would be unfair to say that he [Welbeck] is the replacement for Kenwyne. There’s still a couple of weeks to go in the market and hopefully the money is there to go and spend it.”

August 7th 2010: According to Manchester United’s official website, Blackburn have signed Mame Diouf on season-long loan.

It is also reported that Manchester loaned out Joshua King to Preston North End until mid-November.

August 6th 2010: According to Andy Cryer at the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn are the favorites of signing youngster Mame Diouf.

August 6th 2010 According to Manchester United’s official website, Manchester United will not be loaning out youngster Tom Cleverley, who has drawn interest from Bolton. Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said,

“He is an exceptional young player in terms of his ability to play a variety of position … He is such a talent, we must keep him. He showed at Watford that he’s a goalscorer from midfield and we need that. He has outstanding qualities.”

It is also reported that Ferguson plans to loan out Danny Welbeck and Mame Diouf, although it does not mention where they will go. Welbeck has been linked with Sunderland so far this summer.

UPDATE: According to Stoke City’s official website, Stoke City have completed the signing of Kenwyne Jones for £8million. Jones signed a four-year deal with the club.

August 11th, 2010: According to Sunderland’s official website, Sunderland confirmed that Kenwyne Jones is to undergo a medical with Stoke City this afternoon and begin talks with manager Tony Pulis.

August 10th, 2010 According to James Hunter at the Evening Chronicle, Stoke City are set to sign Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones for £9million. A close friend of Jones’ said,

“Kenwyne is furious that someone would say his ambitions don’t match Sunderland’s. That’s not true at all … Kenwyne likes life at Sunderland and was only recently looking at buying a new apartment in the area.

“In fact, it’s the club who want to sell him and it looks like the deal for him to go to Stoke is now done.”

UPDATE: According to Lyon’s official website (link in French), Sunderland have completed the signing of John Mensah on loan for €500,000. If Mensah reaches 25 appearances, the club will purchase him for €5.5million or they can permanently sign him for the same amount anytime before April 30th, 2011.

July 27th, 2010 According to Luke Edwards at The Journal, Sunderland are close to signing Lyon defender John Mensah on loan once again. Manager Steve Bruce said,

“We’re also close with John Mensah. He wants to come and Lyon want him to go, so that will hopefully get sorted in the next few days.”

July 8th, 2010: According to Luke Edwards at The Journal, Sunderland are still trying to sign John Mensah on loan as they do not have the funds to purchase him. It is reported that the club is willing to pay a loan fee as well as his wages.

July 5th, 2010: According to Mark Douglas at The Journal, a German club, reportedly Hamburg, is interested in signing defender John Mensah. His agent Fabien Pivateau said,

“The situation at this moment is very simple. Sunderland would like to keep the player and he would like to stay in England … Now it is up to Sunderland to work with Lyon to keep the player and make an agreement for him to go back to England.

“There is other interest in John now because of the World Cup. A very big German club has spoken to Lyon and they are interested in him.

“If it is up to John he will go back to Sunderland because he has a very good relationship with the coach (Steve Bruce) and his family are very settled in England. He found Sunderland a very good place to play. It is a situation for Lyon now, though.”

June 21st, 2010 According to Mark Douglas at The Journal, Sunderland are looking to bring back Lyon defender John Mensah but have competition now. While Mensah wants to join Sunderland again, his agent stated that another French club has made an offer for him. Fabien Pivateau said,

“Yes, there has been an offer for John from a club in France … He has played very well in the World Cup and I think that people have noticed what a good player he is again.”

“For John and for me, he wants to go back to Sunderland. He loves the people, he loves the atmosphere, he loves the manager and he loves the club – he feels at home at Sunderland.

“But I do not know what will happen and Lyon have other offers now. We will have to wait and see until after the World Cup.”

UPDATE: According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City does not want to loan out goalkeeper Joe Hart at the moment.

August 4th, 2010 According to the Sunderland Echo, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce confirmed the club’s interest in Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart. Bruce said,

“We’ve asked the question of City and we now just have to wait and see what they say … But the timetable is not up to us on when we get an answer, it’s up to them.

“With these new 25-man squad rules, clubs don’t have to name their confirmed squads until the end of August, so if they wanted to, City could delay any decisions on their squad until then.”

UPDATE: According to Sunderland’s official website, Sunderland have completed the sale of goalkeeper Marton Fulop to Ipswich for an undisclosed fee. Fulop signed a two-year deal with the club.

August 2nd, 2010: According to Sky Sports News, Ipswich Town have finally agreed to a deal for Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop.

August 1st, 2010: According to James Hunter at the Evening Chronicle, Ipswich Town hopes to sign Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop in the next 24 hours. Ipswich manager Roy Keane said,

“We originally wanted to do the deal on loan but then it moved on a bit and it became talk of a permanent signing … We’ve talked a lot about a number of things – in fact I’ve spoken to Steve Bruce more in the last month than I’ve spoken to my wife!

“He’s not too pleased about that and I’m certainly not … But hopefully in the next 24 hours something can happen, although we’ve another target that we are looking at … At this stage we’re still in discussion with agents and we just have to see what happens from there because you can never be sure.

“These sort of situations, when it comes to transfers, they don’t change by the day, they change by the hour.”

July 27th, 2010 According to Luke Edwards at The Journal, Sunderland are close to signing Lyon defender John Mensah on loan once again. Manager Steve Bruce said,

“We’re also close with John Mensah. He wants to come and Lyon want him to go, so that will hopefully get sorted in the next few days.”

Sunderland are also close to a deal that will send Marton Fulop to Ipswich City. Bruce said,

“Márton Fülöp is on the edge of joining Ipswich. They are talking personal terms as I understand it, so something should be finalised shortly as long as those talks go well.”

Lastly Steve Bruce is still hopeful in signing goalkeeper David James. He said,

“David James has talked to Celtic, which we always knew he was going to do. I don’t think he is trying to play one off against the other, he’s just keeping his options open at the moment. We’re still hopeful something will happen.”

UPDATE: According to Sunderland’s official website, Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson signed a new three-year deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2013.

July 26th, 2010: According to Luke Edwards at The Journal, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce hopes to sign Kieran Richardson to a new deal shortly. Bruce said,

“We’re talking to Kieran, he’s got a year left and we hope we can tie him up,” said Bruce, who was delighted with the standing ovation given to Titus Bramble when he came out to watch the team play on Saturday night … I think the chairman has made a few inroads into that.

“We hope he signs it. We want to build a squad here and Kieran is a very good player. They have always got you by the short and curlies these players because he has only got a year left.

“We hope it will get done and we hope we’ll be able to announce something shortly. I like him as a player. He has got a bit of versatility and he can play in a number of different positions.

July 15th, 2010 According to Scott Wilson at the Northern Echo, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admitted the club has been discussing a new contract with Kieran Richardson. Bruce said,

“Niall [Quinn] has had talks with Kieran’s father … And they’re ongoing … I was delighted with Kieran last season, and the way he played at left-back.

“I think he’s got his head around it now (playing at leftback) and he’s okay. But of course he also can play in midfield and I’m not ruling that out. He’s another player we have who can play in midfield.”

UPDATE: Blackpool, Blackburn Added

Blackpool: Clarke Carlisle, Angel Rangel, Gary Kenneth, Robert Koren, Richard Chaplow, Michael Bradley, Danny Welbeck, Francis Jeffers, DJ Campbell, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake

Blackburn: Roberto Canella, Gregory Cerdan, Rodrigo Araujo, Karl Henry, Wendel, Henrique Haygnner Celestine, Tuncay Sanli, Jo, Aristide Bance

July 29th, 2010: Stoke City added to the list

Stoke City: Maynor Figueroa, Javier Pinola, Paul Scharner, Jermaine Jenas, Gary O’Neil, Jermaine Pennant, Kevin Prince Boateng, Victor Obinna, Carlton Cole, and Roman Pavlyuchenko

July 29th, 2010 Simon Rice at The Independent has written many articles that talk about potential targets for the following clubs:

Birmingham: Paul Konchesky, Nathaniel Clyne, Juan Roman Riquelme, Ryan Babel, Aiden McGeady, Charles N’Zogbia, Tom Cleverley, Moussa Dembele, Bobby Zamora, Robbie Keane, and Katlego Mphela

Bolton Wanderers: Lee Naylor, Alan Hutton, Jack Wilshere, Tom Cleverley, Juan Roman Riquelme, Karim Matmour, Franco Di Santo, Rodrigo Moreno, Araujo Ilan, and James Beattie

Sunderland: Chris Kirkland, Nedum Onuoha, Alan Hutton, Tuncay Sanli, Jamie O’Hara, Chris Eagles, Stephen Ireland, John Utaka, Danny Welbeck, Nelson Valdez

West Bromwich: Marton Fulop, Calum Davenport, Phil Bardsley, Jimmy Bullard, George Boateng, Jason Koumas, Rob Hulse, James Beattie, Mohammed Tchite, and Jason Roberts

West Ham United: Francois Clerc, Nicky Shorey, Jamie O’Hara, Kevin Prince Boateng, Steve Sidwell, Jermaine Pennant, Neymar, Yakubu, Loic Remy, Diego Tardelli,

Wigan Athletic: Tyrone Mears, Marcos Ramos, Roberto Canella Martinez, Jermaine Pennant, Darren Pratley Martinez, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Jose Callejon Martinez, Franco Di Santo, Pierre Webo, and Humberto Suazo

Wolverhampton: Andre Bikey, Michael Mancienne, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Aaron Mokoena, Adam Lallana, Benjani Mwaruwari, Jordan Ayew, Tommy Smith, James Beattie, and Robbie Keane

UPDATE: According to Bristol City’s official website, Bristol City have signed free agent goalkeeper David James. James signed a one-year-deal with the club.

July 27th, 2010 Steve Bruce is still hopeful in signing goalkeeper David James. He said,

“David James has talked to Celtic, which we always knew he was going to do. I don’t think he is trying to play one off against the other, he’s just keeping his options open at the moment. We’re still hopeful something will happen.”

UPDATE: According to Newcatle’s official website, Newcastle have completed the signing of free agent defender Sol Campbell. Campbell signed a one-year deal with the club.

July 27th, 2010: According to the Express, defender Sol Campbell is set to have a medical for Newcastle this afternoon.

July 17th, 2010: According to John Richardson at the Daily Express, Newcastle have agreed to sign free agent defender Sol Campbell. It is reported that the deal will be completed once Campbell returns from his honeymoon.

July 12th, 2010: According to James Hunter at the Evening Chronicle, West Ham United have joined the race to sign defender Sol Campbell.

July 9th, 2010: According to Sky Sports News, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce confirmed that he had talks with Sol Campbell.  Bruce said,

“I have known Sol Campbell for a lot of years and it was nice to see him … We had a catch-up to see what his ideas are and what he is up to. It was pretty positive stuff and we will see what happens there.”

July 8th, 2010: According to BBC Sports, free agent defender Sol Campbell held talks with Sunderland today (Thursday). Campbell has been strongly linked with a move to Celtic this summer.

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According to Luke Edwards at The Journal, Sunderland are close to signing Lyon defender John Mensah on loan once again. Manager Steve Bruce said,

“We’re also close with John Mensah. He wants to come and Lyon want him to go, so that will hopefully get sorted in the next few days.”

Sunderland are also close to a deal that will send Marton Fulop to Ipswich City. Bruce said,

“Márton Fülöp is on the edge of joining Ipswich. They are talking personal terms as I understand it, so something should be finalised shortly as long as those talks go well.”

Lastly Steve Bruce is still hopeful in signing goalkeeper David James. He said,

“David James has talked to Celtic, which we always knew he was going to do. I don’t think he is trying to play one off against the other, he’s just keeping his options open at the moment. We’re still hopeful something will happen.”

According to the Express and Star, Sunderland are interested in signing Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland. It is reported that Ireland might be included in the deal with Aston Villa for James Milner, but this new interest from Sunderland could disrupt things a bit.

Sunderland hope to begin formal discussions with Manchester City later this week.