Sunderland sign Craig Gardner

Sunderland have completed the transfer of Birmingham midfielder Craig Gardner for an undisclosed fee. The 24-year-old has signed a three-year deal after heading for Wearside to hold talks. His arrival caps a good two days for the Black Cats, who earlier pushed through their move for South Korea striker Ji Dong-won after landing Connor Wickham on Wednesday.Gardner, who is understood to have cost his new club in the region of £4.5million rising to £6million, was City's top scorer last season and will be handed the task of providing goals from the middle of the park, where he is likely to take over from Jordan Henderson following his big-money switch to Liverpool.The Solihull-born player is a boyhood Birmingham fan despite beginning his senior career with derby rivals Aston Villa, and helped the Blues to a famous Carling Cup final victory over Arsenal last season.However, the club's relegation from the Barclays Premier League made his departure almost inevitable, and the Black Cats were quick to make their interest known and then persuade Gardner that his future lay at the Stadium of Light.
Gardner told SAFC TV: 'It's unbelievable, to be honest. As soon as I found out Sunderland were interested, it was a no-brainer.
'Obviously, I have heard so much about Steve Bruce and his backroom staff and how good a chairman Niall Quinn is.
'It's such a massive club and their ambitions for this season meet my ambitions, and it was too good to turn down.'
The midfielder, who scored 10 goals in the last campaign, is confident he can bring the same potency to Wearside, where he is setting his sights high after hearing Bruce's recruitment plans, which have already landed him five new signings.
He said: 'It means that the club wants to go places. Obviously, we want to finish as high up the table as we can - we want to be in Europe next year and it's a great task to go and chase.
'It's a good goal for us and we can go and do it, and I am sure we will.'

Sunderland Bid £5m for Craig Gardner

Sunderland have made a £5million bid for Birmingham midfielder Craig Gardner.
Former Blues boss Steve Bruce moved to try to take advantage of the uncertainty at St Andrew's by making a bid for the midfield talisman just 24 hours after the resignation of Alex McLeish.
Gardner, 24 and a Birmingham fan, was the club's star performer during their rollercoaster season. He was top scorer with 10 in all competitions, and his last-day goal at Tottenham came within minutes of saving his club from relegation.Bruce, with money to spend after agreeing Jordan Henderson's £16m switch to Liverpool, will offer him the chance to stay in the Barclays Premier League. Newcastle are also keen on Gardner, who cost £3m when McLeish signed him from Aston Villa 18 months ago.

Bruce has already tried to move ahead of his North East rival Alan Pardew in the battle for former Birmingham winger Seb Larsson