Emerson Thome caused a bit of a stir yesterday - by not having a go at Chelsea.

Instead he predicted that Sunderland had everything in place to be the greatest club in Britain.

Luca Vialli claims that everybody hates the Blues but Thome sidestepped the wrecking crew following his £4.5m move from Stamford Bridge to Wearside.

"I'm meant to be upset but I'm not upset with Chelsea in any way," stressed the Brazilian defender after completing his club record switch.

"I didn't have time to see Vialli before I left but I wish Chelsea good luck for the future. I had a marvellous eight months there and they are a fantastic club.

"Of course I would have liked to have stayed longer. I would have liked to stay for years. But the manager made his decision and I can't say anything about him. He has changed his options for the good of the team and I have no hard feelings.

"In fact I'm very happy with the move. Chelsea have a side that can win the title but I am joining a great club."

And Thome believes it won't be long before Sunderland is also challenging for English football's top prizes.

"Everybody in football now sees Sunderland as a big club and they have all the conditions in place to be the greatest club in Britain," he insisted. "They are on the climb and I want to be in the ship when they get to the top. I'm pleased to be here."

Thome only moved to Chelsea last December after being on the receiving end of an 8-0 walloping at Newcastle while with Sheffield Wednesday. But it's a measure of the defender's character that he went back to St James' Park in March and emerged triumphant in a 1-0 victory for Chelsea - one of only two teams to win on Tyneside since Bobby Robson took over a year ago.

Sunderland boss Peter Reid remembered that game as well as Thome's performance for Wednesday at the Stadium of Light.

"He played Niall Quinn as well as anybody I have seen," he said. "I made enquiries and I moved when he became available this week. He's a very solid defender with a great attitude and we are going to have some very healthy competition in there when everybody is fit."

Reid is paying the market rate but admits he doesn't have to like it.

"If you can get bargains, why not get bargains?" he said. "I would rather get a player for £650,000. But then I don't like spending money, everybody knows that."

Thome is certain to make his debut against West Ham on Tuesday because Slovakian Stanislav Varga is sidelined for at least a month after a double operation on his leg while Steve Bould is still being nursed back to full fitness.

Bould suffered a setback when he was thrown in at Manchester City last week but Reid insisted: "He's still very much in my plans.

"I've got a better squad and it's a healthy squad. It's going to make my job very difficult when all my players are available."

Meanwhile Reid is certain to rebuff any move by Celtic to snap up goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen. Martin O'Neill is understood to be interested but Reid has consistently maintained that the Dane is staying at the Stadium of Light.