ROKER ROUNDUP: Sunderland bid for Scottish defender as youngster is set to depart for Bundesliga

Sunderland bid for defender

Sunderland have reportedly bid £200,000 for Ross County right-back Jason Naismith. According to the Press and Journal, Sunderland are clear favourites to sign the 23-year-old despite offers also coming in from Burton Albion and Peterborough United - although the Derby Telegraph claims Burton have not made a bid for the defender.

Jack Ross briefly managed Naismith while St Mirren were bottom of the Scottish Championship but sold the defender to SPL side Ross County as he looked to overhaul his squad in a successful bid to escape the drop.

Naismith, who has two years remaining on his contract, is also thought to be interesting Aberdeen and Plymouth Argyle but Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor says although the club want to keep the player, he will only be allowed to leave if he makes it clear he sees his future elsewhere:

Jason has been on holiday and is only just coming back. We’ve had a couple of bids in and a couple of enquiries and I don’t want him to go. I want him to stay and help us make the recharge towards the Premiership.

He might feel this is not the place for him and he wants to play at the highest level he can. It will very much be when I talk to him that I see how he really feels about it.

The management team and I don’t want players here who are not going to be 100% for the cause. We want hungry players who want to be at the club.

I need to check that out with Jason and understand exactly where he is in his thoughts. We have made it clear we want him but does he want the club?

Sunderland youngster set to depart?

Sunderland may be set to lose an England U16 international as former Sky Sports reporter Peter O’Rourke claims that VfB Stuttgart are ready to sign young forward Sam Greenwood after he rejected the offer of a contract to remain at the Stadium of Light.

Greenwood was a regular goalscorer in the U18s for Sunderland last season and losing a highly-thought of prospect will be a big blow for the club, particularly as we are looking to fast-track our most talented youngsters through the system and into the first team.

Former Black Cats on the move

Seb Larsson has completed a free transfer move to AIK, putting an end to a career-long stay in English football. Larsson was out of contract at Hull City after only signing a one-year deal with the Tigers upon leaving Sunderland last year.

The 33-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Stockholm based side, who are currently second in the Allsvenskan table after 12 games, just two points behind leaders Hammarby - who have former Sunderland defender Oscar Krusnell currently on their books.

Sebastian Coates may also be on the move. The Uruguayan international is hoping to rescind his contract at Sporting CP due to the turmoil at the Portuguese club - the club’s ultras recently attacked the club’s training ground and attacked players and back room staff - but if he is unsuccessful in doing so, Sporting are hoping good performances at the World Cup will increase his value.

La Liga sides Valencia and Sevilla are both believed to be keen on the 27-year-old, with Sporting hoping for at least £10m for the player. It’s unknown whether Sunderland have a sell-on clause that would see them profit should he move on but as the previous regime failed to insert one into Jordan Pickford’s Everton contract, it’s likely that they messed up with Coates too.

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