Rotherham United tried to sign Danny Batth during the summer transfer window.
That’s according to the Rotherham Advertiser, who reported that The Millers were keen to sign him before he left Sunderland.
Despite being named Sunderland’s Player of the Year last season after making 40 appearances in the Championship, Batth left Wearside on deadline day.
The defender hadn’t made a league start this season and it was long expected that he would leave, with QPR and Blackburn Rovers both eager to snap him up.
However, fans were left delighted by the news that Batth had decided to turn down a move away and fight for his place at the Stadium of Light as last week’s deadline approached.
The 32-year-old’s decision came as a surprise after it looked like his appearances at Sunderland would be very limited and he eventually changed his mind.
Batth secured a deadline day move to Norwich City and it now appears that he had even more options than originally thought.
Rotherham have only picked up four points from their opening five games and have conceded one of the highest goal tallies this season (11). Matt Taylor’s side were eager to boost their defence with the signing of Batth, but he instead chose to fight for promotion alongside Sunderland by joining Norwich.
The Millers’ interest came seven months after they had snapped up another Sunderland veteran in Bailey Wright, who joined the club on loan back in January.
The 31-year-old made seven appearances for Rotherham before he was released by the Black Cats this summer.
Would Sunderland have been better off selling Danny Batth to Rotherham United?
Danny Batth’s departure was less painful by the time it happened due to how long fans had been waiting for him to leave.
His previous decision to stay on Wearside was a delight to fans’ ears, but it certainly made more sense for him to leave the club as he clearly wasn’t in Tony Mowbray’s plans.
However, to let him join promotion rivals seems like a questionable decision. The Canaries currently sit fifth in the Championship and could well be competing with Sunderland for a place in the play-offs.
Seeing the ‘special’ defender join QPR or Rotherham would have been a lot easier to take, but perhaps harsh on his abilities and ambition.