To see Didier Ndong depart for pastures new last night was to witness the essence of Sunderland’s recent demise. Ndong arrived as something of an unknown quantity seventeen months ago, but that did not deter the club from parting with a record transfer fee to acquire his services. Now, less than two-fifths of his way into a five-year contract, Ndong finds himself loaned out to Watford, with a view to a permanent deal in the summer. It is almost certain that he won’t play for Sunderland again.
In return for that £13.6m transfer fee – and a rumoured £30,000 a week in wages