ROKER ROUNDUP: Turkish group interested in SUNDERLAND takeover bid - is our debt the problem?

Another takeover group takes interest in Sunderland?

Takeover talk continues to dominate headlines as another group is credited with an interest in taking over the reigns from Ellis Short.

This time it’s an unnamed Turkish group who have an interest in Sunderland and Blackpool, according to the Blackpool Gazette.

The group are interested in a complete buyout of our soon-to-be League One rivals Blackpool FC, another side that have had to suffer with horrendous ownership. According to the Gazette, the group have been put off buying Sunderland due to the size of the club’s debts and have turned their attention to the Seasiders.

The group have held talks with solicitors representing Blackpool’s controversial owner Owen Oyston, with a local Blackpool restaurant owner acting as an intermediary.

The article makes no mention of whether the group have ended their interest in Sunderland but Blackpool put out a statement earlier today saying they have reached an agreement with foreign investors, pending legal formalities. Whether that’s the Turkish group has not been disclosed but if so it will surely end their interest in Sunderland.

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Loan player set for Sunderland return

Papy Djilobodji could be set for a return to Sunderland in the summer after a successful loan spell at Ligue 1 side Dijon.

Although his spell at the French side has been a success, with Dijon comfortably mid-table, his wages look to be a sticking point in any deal according to infos-dijon.com.

Olivier Dall’Oglio, Dijon’s manager, made it clear earlier today that a bigger budget is required if they are to continue to stay in Ligue 1:

If the budget increases, it allows a little wider choice of the level of players. If we want to continue to stay in Ligue 1 with a certain comfort, it would be good to recruit. The interest is not to recruit en masse but to keep a maximum of players that suit us, integrate some hopes and recruit 2-3 of sure quality.

Although not mentioning Papy by name, he did say that the defence should be their number one priority ahead of next season.

L’Equipe earlier this year suggested Sunderland were covering around two-thirds of Djilobodji’s wages while is on loan - £90,000 of £142,000 per month - an amount that looks to be too rich for Dijon and, after relegation to League One, definitely too rich for Sunderland but with high wages and David Moyes stupidly paying £8m for the defender, this is going to be another deal that sees the club lose millions.