[Dirtycheat]

Sunderland boss Roy is keen on bringing old rival Viera to the Stadium of Light in January

Sunderland manager Roy Keane wants to take Patrick Vieira to the Stadium of Light in the New Year.

Keane made his first inquiry in the summer transfer window over the availability of his former Arsenal rival from their Premier League playing days but was put off by the former France midfielder’s enormous wages.




Sunderland boss Roy Keane wants to bring his old adversary Patrick Viera to the Stadium of Light
But with new backer Ellis Short in the Sunderland boardroom, Keane is preparing for a new move for the Inter Milan midfielder, who was Arsenal captain during Keane's tenure as Manchester United skipper.

Keane is ready to smash Sunderland's wage structure to land 32-year-old Vieira, who is unhappy at Inter following Jose Mourinho’s arrival as manager at the San Siro.



Keane said: ‘If the player was right and we felt he could come in and do a job for the team, obviously we have moved the structure on.


‘I have an idea what the top players are getting. We would be way behind what Newcastle are getting, way behind.


'I would put it to (Sunderland chairman) Niall (Quinn) and the board and say “listen, I believe this player can give us something” and I’m pretty sure they would back us.’



Keane and Vieira clashed almost every time they met as the figureheads of the United and Arsenal sides battling for Premier League titles in the Nineties, but their most famous coming together was in the tunnel at Highbury.



On Friday, Keane blamed his former United team-mate Gary Neville for the altercation, but said he would do it all again, if only he had the opportunity.


The Sunderland manager said: ‘There is only one person to blame for that, and that’s Gary Neville.

'He started it and then went missing because someone had a go at him as he was coming in from the warm up, so Gary told me.



‘I didn’t think it was right and I would do it again tomorrow.

'Gary was a team-mate and I thought it was out of order coming from the warm-up and I had to defend my team-mate.


‘They were the occasions against Arsenal.






Viera is thought to be unsettled at Inter Milan after Jose Mourinho's appointment as boss
'Fortunately, I missed the one at Old Trafford with the pizza because I was sick, but they were the battles you faced.


'Whether it be in the tunnel or at half-time, you still have to win the game on the pitch.
‘A lot of that was blown out of all proportion by the media but it was just the battle, the tensions between the two teams, between the two managers and the two clubs

‘It was absolutely brilliant.


'I don’t think there is that rivalry out there at the moment, not like there was between us and Arsenal.

‘It was everything. The players did not particularly like each other, the teams were very close, the managers, both teams were fighting for titles.


‘Of course, I respected them, that’s a good word, respect.

'But, by God, you looked forward to those games.


‘They didn’t hold back either. Let’s not put halos on the Arsenal players, people like Keown and Vieira.

'They would give it back and that was the good thing about it.

'You have to give and take.’


Keane admits he feels like a novice in the Premier League management stakes, saying: ‘You are pitting your wits against these brilliant clubs and managers, like Martin O'Neill last week.

‘They have vast experience and I feel like a baby, really, just starting out.’



Sunderland boss Roy is keen on bringing old rival Viera to the Stadium of Light | Mail Online

This would be quite remarkable tbh. To have nial quin as his chairman and vierra playing for him, well it would be wierd.

Just imagine what would happen if vierra got sent off or subtituted too early lol.

[Torque]

This is unbelievable. I don't think this deal will go through. Keano may want Vieira at Sunderland but that doesn't mean that Vieira would like to work under his arch rival.

I think it will take a mircale for this transfer to take place.

[JamesRoyale]

imagine viera became assistant manager with keane.

if the deal does through it can only be a good thing for sunderland. its one of the most expirienced top players currently in football, and that will do nothing than benifit the team, whether it be his performances or his affect on the other players.

i wonder what his wage packet would be like though