Black Cats accept McClean offer

James McClean joined Sunderland in 2011 from Derry City
7 August 2013

Sunderland have accepted an undisclosed bid from Wigan for winger James McClean, Press Association Sport understands.

Should a deal now be done for the 24-year-old to drop down to the Sky Bet Championship, it will bring to an end a colourful stay on Wearside.

McClean was signed by former manager Martin O'Neill from Derry City in 2011 and made an immediate impact when thrown into the Sunderland first team.

International honours soon followed, although with the Republic of Ireland rather than his native Northern Ireland.

He courted controversy when he opted not to wear a poppy on his shirt during a game against Everton which fell on Remembrance weekend, while he was also involved in a number of controversies on Twitter which led to O'Neill criticising him for using the social networking site.

Republic manager Giovanni Trapattoni took a liking to him, though, and selected him for Euro 2012, but new Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio does not seem to be as big a fan and is willing to allow him to leave.

The Italian has made sweeping changes at the club this summer, signing nine new players, and McClean, along with the already-departed Titus Bramble and Matthew Kilgallon, appears to be a victim of the new regime.

McClean made 70 appearances for Sunderland scoring 11 goals.

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