Sunderland boss Simon Grayson disappointed to miss out on Max Gradel signing
- Max Gradel has joined Ligue 1 side Toulouse on a season-long loan
- Sunderland boss Simon Grayson brought the Ivorian to Leeds back in 2009
- He was hoping to bring him to the Black Cats from Bournemouth this summer
Sunderland boss Simon Grayson is disappointed to miss out on bringing Max Gradel to the club.
The Black Cats were trying to take the Ivorian from Bournemouth but he has decided to join French Ligue 1 side Toulouse on a season-long loan.
Grayson, who signed the 29-year-old for Leeds in 2009, thought he had a deal agreed, but Gradel opted to return to France, having previously played for St Etienne.
Simon Grayson is disappointed to miss out on bringing Max Gradel to Sunderland
'We spoke to Max and he eventually decided to go back to France,' the boss said after his side kept their unbeaten start to the season going with a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday in the Sky Bet Championship.
'We had agreed something with Bournemouth and ultimately he is a good player that I wanted to bring to the club.
'It shows you where we are as a club with the players that we are looking at.
'That would have been a big signing for us if we had managed to do it, but he just felt his family wanted to go back to France and that was a disappointment for us, but that is part and parcel of the transfer window.'
The Ivorian has decided to join French Ligue 1 side Toulouse on a season-long loan
Meanwhile, young striker Josh Maja will be out for around a month after having knee surgery.
Maja scored four times in six pre-season friendlies but suffered an injury at Bradford and a specialist has decided to put him under the knife.
Grayson added: 'He had the operation on his knee on Tuesday morning so he will probably be out for a month.
'They found a problem with his knee so they operated.'
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