Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland cannot afford Sol Campbell while Jimmy Bullard prices Celtic out of dealh
In demand: Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has also held talks with West Ham and Celtic[LNB]Sol Campbell and Jimmy Bullard learned football's new financial realities yesterday as both saw transfers stall because of their high wage demands. [LNB]Former England defender Campbell, 35, is believed to be asking for £35,000 a week, which was too rich even for Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, who would like to make him club captain. [LNB]Bullard was accused by Hull chairman Adam Pearson of making 'ridiculous financial demands' as a proposed switch to Celtic fell through.[LNB] Bruce, who is at Limerick tonight for a friendly with a Munster XI, confirmed he met last week with Campbell, who has also talked to West Ham's new manager Avram Grant and Celtic's Neil Lennon.[LNB] Although Bruce could meet the demands of the former Arsenal star, who has an incredible £70,000-a-week offer from German club St Pauli, he is reluctant to commit so much of his budget at this stage. [LNB]Bruce has Michael Turner, Anton Ferdinand, Matt Kilgallon and Paulo da Silva on his books and wants Ghana captain John Mensah on loan from Lyon for another season.[LNB] The Sunderland boss confirmed: 'We had a conversation with Sol. He is getting married next week, then going on honeymoon, and he will give an answer when he comes back. In the meantime I am still looking. He would be an asset to the club. He could give us stability. He is highly respected and has played at the top for a long time.' [LNB]Sunderland are also coping with Argentinian left back Marcos Angeleri's move to the Stadium of Light being held up as he awaits an Italian passport, even though he is now training with the squad. [LNB] Pay demands: Bullard is said to want an extra £30,000-a-week to move to Celtic[LNB]Bruce is also interested in Portsmouth striker John Utaka. Striker Darren Bent, who missed out on the England World Cup squad, is among a handful of players who will not be at Munster's Thomond Park, with Scotland No 1 Craig Gordon being rested as he recovers from surgery. [LNB]Hull chairman Pearson, who was prepared to pay some of Bullard's £45,000-a-week salary while he spent a season on loan at Parkhead, hit out at the former Fulham midfielder. [LNB]On the move: Artur Boruc[LNB]Bullard is thought to be demanding an extra £30,000 a week from Celtic on top of his salary, and Pearson decided to pull the plug rather than let the 31-year-old join the Scottish club on their pre-season tour of America. [LNB]Pearson said: 'The deal is off, as far as we are concerned, because of absolutely ridiculous financial demands being made by the player. We would have made a significant contribution to the wage package, but unless he has a dramatic change of heart overnight, we expect him back here.' [LNB]In a busy day for Celtic, goalkeeper Artur Boruc signed for Fiorentina. Republic of Ireland player Aiden McGeady's departure looks close, as he did not join the Celtic squad who left for a pre-season tour of the USA yesterday.[LNB]Manchester United have included Portugal star Nani in their touring party, after he missed playing at the World Cup because of a broken collarbone, and set off for the United States yesterday for a pre-season tour which begins with a training camp in Chicago. Besiktas join race with Aston Villa and Valencia for Arsenal striker EduardoManchester City target Edin Dzeko pleads with Wolfsburg to lower huge £50m price tagBlackpool weighing up move for Everton target and USA World Cup star Michael BradleyLiverpool say no to David Ngog loan switch to West Brom as Roy Hodgson faces striker shortage[LNB]
