Midfielder’s ‘big day’ underlines Sunderland effort to sign him, Moyes can spot a player

 

David Moyes has long had a thing for Spanish midfielders. Whilst at Manchester United, he tried to sign Ander Herrera (who Louis van Gaal later got), Cesc Fabregas and Saul among others, and Moyes has continued his efforts at Sunderland.

Toward the end of the summer transfer window, Sky Sports news claimed Sevilla had accepted a £7m offer from Sunderland for Vicente Iborra. We said at the time it seemed unlikely, with Iborra almost certainly worth more, and an important player at high-flyers Sevilla.

Iborra has gone on to prove that and underline why Sunderland tried to sign him in the first place. Scoring all three goals as Sevilla beat Celta Vigo 3-0, Iborra put in a performance to justify the captain’s armband he wears. Spanish newspaper AS say the match was Iborra’s ‘big day’.

Sevilla are currently third in La Liga and have qualified for the knock out stages of the Champions League. Whilst identifying Iborra can’t be faulted, perhaps Sunderland were a little over optimistic, especially at £7m.