Melbourne City have reportedly signed veteran Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen on a two-year deal.
Sorensen has been linked to a move to City for weeks but Danish newspaper BT says a deal has been reached with the A-League club and an announcement is imminent.
The 39-year-old has been a fixture of the English Premier League since moving to Sunderland in 1998, spending five years with the Black Cats before moving to Aston Villa and then most recently Stoke City.
While relegated to a back-up role with Stoke over the last three seasons, City clearly believes Sorensen’s ageing body can withstand the rigours of the A-League having signed him for two years.
Melbourne City already have the maximum of five imports on their books, but Jonatan Germano is on a short-term injury-replacement contract and it’s understood he will be moved on to make room for the 101-cap Danish international.
It’s anticipated Sorensen will usurp Tando Velaphi, the only other gloveman currently on City’s books, as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Sorensen would become just the third import goalkeeper in A-League history, after Perth Glory’s Milan Jovanic (2005/06) from Serbia and Wellington’s Tony Warner (2011/12) from Trinidad & Tobago.
Batou
Guest
An import goal keeper? I guess they just have too many amazing goal scores that they didn't need to use this visa spot on another... I agree with Fadida. City have been very underwhelming since being bought out.
Batou
Guest
Without wanting to be too harsh, that is a pretty good skill to have as a Sunderland keeper! At least recently...
fadida
Guest
When your marquees are Koren and Mooy (good player though), it is underwhelming. The marquees do in fact allow financial muscle to be flexed. City have wasted an opportunity. We want Pirlo and Ronaldinho!
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
Very surprised by this signing. One thing Australia does well is producing decent goalkeepers. We do not have any real need for imports for that position.
Sandy
Roar Rookie
I think this will prove to be a solid signing. Whilst Tandos performances had been solid last season I dont think he has the personality/presence to command the box. In relation to city financial muscle, you do realise that they are constrained to a salary cap? So far city group have delivered, 15m spent on training base, resigned mooy as marquee (reportedly on $850k a season for next 3 years. Unfortuantely koren has proven to be underwhelming but couldnt be moved on, as he is on a 2 year deal.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
As a Sunderland supporter who has good memories of Tommy's days between the sticks for my club I'm looking forward to seeing him at Aami. I always rated him, but my Dad still says that he's only ever good for fishing the ball out of the net...
AZ_RBB
Guest
Would be a bit concerned about a GK who has hardly played a game in the last 3yrs. Hopefully he's not too rusty.
fadida
Guest
I'd dispute that City are "dominating the transfer market". Given their financial muscle they've been underwhelming.
144
Roar Guru
Interesting move. I thought Tando Velaphi was quite satisfactory last season - once again Melbourne City dominating the transfer market in australia, making key signings and some good signings at that.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Good Lord, a visa signing as well. If he doesn't replace Tando then what was the point of the signing??????? Scoring goals as our new centre forward??? Germano could turn Australian citizen and that would fix the "five imports" dilema.