Trialist offered contract...

News from the club suggest that boss Niall Quinn has offered trialist Arnau Caldentey Riera a deal at Sunderland.

Sources close to the club have revealed that Quinn offered Riera a 3-year deal last week, and the 24-year old Spaniard will sign this week, although he is unlikely to sign in time for Birmingham's visit on Wednesday.

Riera, who has been on trial at Sunderland since late July, is the captain of Barcelona's B side, and after finding it hard to displace some of the midfield talents at the Catlan club for a place in the first team, he is ready to ply his trade in England, after rejecting a move to Hearts.

Whilst primarily a defensive midfielder, Riera also offers a box to box engine and a creative spark that was lacking during yesterday's season opener. He could also provide the defence with some much needed cover after looking vulnerable against Coventry.

With Clive Clarke and Anthony Stokes also set to sign this week, aswell as further enquiries for Ricardo Cabanas and Kevin Phillips to be made, it would seem that Quinn is finally making some badly-needed inroads into the transfer market.

By Carl Leighton

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