Marseille connection for Irons back-up man

With little to amuse ourselves on the Hammers deadline day scene I am amused by a little irony which appears to be developing in the north east.

If you recall, there was some talk that were we not to land Emanuelle Emineke then we would be having a word with Fat Sam about the possibility of taking Steven Fletcher off his hands.

That was met in some places with more than a chorus of disapproval and a roar of disbelief in others, although CandH was assured it was indeed the case. Fletcher was a back-up target.

Now, it seems, our old friends over at Marseilles may have seen the virtues of the 28 year old who, if Sky are to be believed, is currently winging his way to France where he may sign on the dotted line.

You have to wonder if given our links with Allardyce, and the friendship between the Irons and Sunderland chairman, whether a friendly word wasn’t perhaps placed in the ears of the Marseilles negotiators.

Whether or not that happened one thing’s for sure, Marseilles don’t buy mugs so maybe the Fletcher shout wasn’t such a bad one after all.