Keane Makes it a Hat-Trick

[Roy Keane]

*Sunderland's latest signing - Gus van der Vaart - shows off his new Sunderland strip*

Sunderland's New Boy Hopes To Impress

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Sunderland manager Roy Keane has announced his latest signing - Gus van der Vaart, who becomes Sunderland's third new name of the summer.

Roy Keane was delighted to sign van der Vaart, who was put up for sale by Leeds United for a bargain £1.8m.

"He is a great signing for us - he will further strengthen the defence, which has been my top priority so far.

The lad will hopefully become our new rock at the back. Between him, Duggan (Keane's first signing) and Smith (his 2nd) we have an absolute strength at the back now, which is fantastic."

The new boy didn't look too delighted at his new move, however he concedes it was the only move he was prepared to make upon leaving Leeds.

"They didn't want me - simple as that" a bitter van der Vaart, speaking on his former club, told the Sunderland Echo.

"The gaffer put me up for sale, which I wasn't delighted with to be honest. But at least he had the honesty to tell me I wasn't wanted.

When Roy Keane came in for me immediately, I knew it was a move that had to be made. I want to be in the manager's plans, and hopefully that is what will happen here.

I will be delighted to show Leeds what they have missed, and I intend to win the fans over quickly here in Sunderland".

van der Vaart refused to comment on any possible falling out with the Leeds manager, but despite the cold sorrowful exterior, he admits there is one silver lining.

"I'm just delighted that a team of such stature and awesome support decided they wanted me - for a professional footballer, that is all one can dream of".

van der Vaart joins Ralph Duggan and Craig Smith onto Wearside - and Keane admits that his attentions will now look to strengthening his front line.

"We have one of the best midfielders in the world in Tom Barham, with 2 or 3 excellent midfielders alongside him. However, we only have three forwards, and if one of them is unavailable, it doesn't give us much backup.

I will be looking to strengthen the attack, though I feel in Zurich and Kipp we have a deadly strikeforce already. However, the defence was my priority, and that is a job well done".

The new signings will likely feature in Sunderland's first match - though they don't have any official fixtures yet - another situation Keane is eager to remedy.

"We need a warm up game or two in order to try the guys out and see who can fit where into the team" Keane told us.

"Ideally I would like to have a friendly or two behind us before the League season starts, but if not we will just have to wait until the competition kicks off".

Article courtesy of the Sunderland Echo.[/center][/blockquote]

[mighty leeds united [kk]]

Leeds United manager Austen Thompson had the following to say about the departure of van der Vaart.

"I did fairly discuss with van der Vaart earlier on that we could be selling him, and in all fairness I left the choice up to him, and in the end, we probably got ripped off for the amount payed for him, he was a great asset to our team, and his work here was deeply appreciated, we wish him well in his future."

[[ChainGang SFC] Sr. Peter Bati]

CGS Boss Sir Peter Bati Has Also Commented On This player

"Yes Yeah, He is a great player And i can't wait to play against Him. He has the skill and will be a GREAT threat to All the Manage it Clubs. When we play Sunderland, He's gonna be marked tightly."

[Roy Keane]

Sept 13, 2008 21:35:45 GMT 1 mighty leeds united [kk] said:

Leeds United manager Austen Thompson had the following to say about the departure of van der Vaart.

"I did fairly discuss with van der Vaart earlier on that we could be selling him, and in all fairness I left the choice up to him, and in the end, we probably got ripped off for the amount payed for him, he was a great asset to our team, and his work here was deeply appreciated, we wish him well in his future."

skysports.co.uk have been in touch with Gus van der Vaart with regards to Austen Thompson's comments about their working relationship.

"I can confirm I did talk to Austen [Thompson] about the reasons for Leeds selling me for such an inexpensive amount.

We have cleared the air, and there was never any rift. I would like to thank Mr. Thompson for going public to clear the air - I look forward to seeing him again when Leeds face Sunderland during the course of the season, and wish Leeds all the best in the coming season."

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