Roker Roundup: Ex-Sunderland boss headhunted to replace former SAFC defender... at Egyptian club

Donald provides contract update

Sunderland have been locked in contract talks with Lynden Gooch and Josh Maja as the club hope to persuade the pair that their future remains at the Stadium of Light.

Both players are out of contract at the end of the season and with Maja in particular attracting plenty of interest due to his goalscoring prowess this season, getting them signed up to new deals has been a priority.

Stewart Donald replied to a fan on Twitter yesterday, asking if the club were any closer to agreeing new contracts, and revealed that the pair want to stay and is hopeful that good news will arrive before Christmas:

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Bruce linked with two jobs

Former Sunderland manager may have recently been sacked as manager of Aston Villa but the 57-year-old is still in demand with two clubs reportedly interested in his services.

According to the Sun, Sheffield Wednesday are considering Bruce as a possible replacement for Jos Luhukay, whose Owls side are languishing in 17th place in the Championship, just six points above the relegation zone.

The report claims that Wednesday have already met with Bruce to sound him out about taking over from the Dutch manager.

Meanwhile Bruce has also been linked with Egyptian club Al Ahly as a potential replacement for former Sunderland defender Patrice Carteron, who was sacked last month.

Bruce’s rumoured arrival has not gone down well though, which has caused Al Ahly’s marketing consultant Adly El-Qayei to ask for patience:

There should be more patience. The board must get a full chance to select the new coach away of any pressures.

We found a huge disagreement over Bruce even before his arrival. We don’t know if he will come or not, and Monday’s board meeting isn’t related to a definite [candidate].

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Youth miss out

Sunderland under-12s travelled to Ypres, Belgium over the weekend to take part in the Premier League’s annual Christmas Truce Tournament.

The competition commemorates the 1914 Christmas Truce in the First World War and the likes of Arsenal, Burnley, Cardiff, Wolves, Anderlecht, Club Brugge, Lille, Lens, Cologne and Hertha Berlin joined Sunderland in the tournament.

The young Sunderland team had success too, getting all the way to the final only to lose out to Cardiff City in a penalty shoot-out.