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Lee Cattermole will not be leaving Sunderland today, according to a report in The Guardian.
The midfielder has been strongly linked with a move to Stoke City, and Sunderland's imminent capture of Liam Bridcutt from Brighton was thought to be the catalyst for Cattermole to move on. That does not appear to be the case, though.
Louise Taylor, who is generally very well-connected at Sunderland, claims that Gus Poyet is unwilling to sanction a move that would strengthen an immediate relegation rival. That seems to make sense to us.
Of course, there is also the fact that Cattermole is a very useful player to have around anyway, and with over two years left on his contract there really isn't a huge rush to cash-in on him. If this report is accurate, it is a decision from the club we firmly back.
It will be interesting if the 'don't help rivals' policy also extends to Steven Fletcher, who has also been linked with Stoke. Phil Bardsley has been the subject of multiple bids from Fulham too.
Securing Bridcutt's arrival before midday and moving out a few fringe players would probably represent a pretty strong deadline day for Sunderland in reality.
