Sunderland boss who coached Manchester United immediately before Louis van Gaal, David Moyes, has made it clear that he actually turned down the chance to sign the Togo international, Emmanuel Adebayor, despite a paucity of striking options at the Wearside.
With the injured Jermain Defoe and free-transfer signing Victor Anichebe still finding fitness, the confident Moyes played 17-year-old Swede Joel Asoro up front in Wednesday’s EFL Cup win at Queens Park Rangers, where Paddy McNair scored twice to see the team in to victory.
Emmanuel Adebayor has 97 Premier League goals to his name from his days in Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and, most recently, Crystal Palace, but David Moyes was not moved to sign the striker, who presently saw a move to France, Lyon fall through.
Crystal Palace refused to give the Togolese a new deal after last season, and he has been searching of a new employer but none seems to be forthcoming. There were reports that Adebayor played with the idea of staying in the Premier League until claims from France emerged that a move to Lyon broke down after a meeting with manager Bruno Genesio.
He claimed the player had asked for a shot of whisky in his coffee and had a cigarette in his mouth which led to the breakdown of the deal, although Adebayor adamantly believes it was because the Togo captain refused to pull out of the Africa Cup of Nations early next year.
“Emmanuel Adebayo was offered to us about five weeks ago” Moyes said.
“I of course did not do anything concerning it then and neither am I going to do anything about it just now except something dramatically changes.”
Jermain Defoe is supposed to return to the first eleven when the Black Cats host Crystal Palace on Saturday.