Former West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is ready to raid his old employers and bring Joey O’Brien to Sunderland this summer, according to The Daily Mail.
The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland defender has not featured for Slaven Bilic’s side this season due to competition for places at the back and a number of injury concerns.
O’Brien’s contract with the London club expires this summer and it is looking extremely likely that the veteran will leave the Boleyn Ground as a free agent and look for a new club.
Allardyce knows the Irish enforcer well from their mutual time at West Ham and Bolton, and is eyeing a bargain deal this summer for the Dublin-born star.
West Ham have progressed since Allardyce has left the club and are now looking to streamline their squad this summer before moving into the Olympic Stadium in 2016-17.
Sunderland are embroiled in a battle to stay in the Premier League, with the outcome to have a major impact on the Wearside outfit’s budget.
