SUNDERLAND legend Gary Rowell reckons transfer target Mido has the “wow factor” that Black Cats fans crave.
Roy Keane confirmed over the weekend that he has made a bid for the Spurs frontman, and is now waiting to be granted permission to speak to the Egyptian.
Sunderland face competition for Mido’s signature from Fulham, who indicated yesterday that they will also make a bid for the player.
But Rowell believes Mido would be a terrific signing for Sunderland, and one that would excite the fans.
He said: “Sunderland have made some decent signings over the summer, but none of them have got the wow factor.
“But I think Mido could be the one that has that – I think he would excite the fans.
“Whenever I’ve seen him he’s impressed me and I rate him highly.
“I think he is better than the strikers that we already have.
“He would bring an extra dimension to the team.
“I’m quite excited about the signing – and I hope it comes off.
“I think he’s be good for the team, he would definitely improve us and we would be more potent as an attacking threat.
“I think he would be a great signing for Sunderland.”
Mido has been squeezed out at Spurs by the intense competition for places up front.
He made just 12 Premiership appearances last season, scoring one goal, but the year before he scored 11 Premiership goals in 27 games.
But Rowell says the 24-year-old would thrive on playing regular football as Sunderland’s first-choice hitman.
He said: “Spurs have got five quality strikers – Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent and Mido.
“Mido is just one of five there, whereas if he came to Sunderland he would be the No 1 striker. I think that might suit him.
“We’ve all heard that he has a bit of a fiery temperament – whether that’s true or not, I don’t know.
“But sometimes players like that need their ego to be fuelled and there’s nothing better for that than to be No 1 striker at your club.
“The fans would love him and he would respond to that.
“He’s undoubtedly got talent. He ticks all the boxes for me and he has all of the attributes you need to be a striker.
“He could be the signing that really inspires the fans.
“No-one wants a player who has tantrums – ultimately you have to abide by the manager’s decisions – but I can understand why a player who wants to play every week is not happy when it doesn’t happen.
“He would be easier to handle if he was playing every week, as he would be at Sunderland.
“No matter how much managers go on about rotation, no player worth his salt wants to be sitting on the bench.
“Maybe Mido just wants to get out and play all the time, and if that’s the case then it’s a point in his favour. I admire him for that.”
One potential sticking point in any Sunderland bid to bring Mido in before the season starts is the fact that the Black Cats play Spurs in the first game on Saturday.
Rowell said: “It would be great if we could get him in the team for Saturday, but of course sometimes transfers take a long time to complete.
“I’m sure Spurs would rather sell him after they have been to the Stadium of Light than before.
“That may be a complication in the deal because if Mido plays against them and scores then Spurs will feel they have cut their own throat.”
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