ROKER ROUNDUP: Peterborough Chairman speaks out on Sunderland bid for their highly-rated captain

Peterborough owner on Sunderland bid

Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony has given a revealing interview with the Posh’s YouTube channel, and during the chat he gave details on Sunderland’s failed bid for their central defender Jack Baldwin:

We obviously had Sunderland come in and want to pay next to nothing for him, they were trying to shift players at the time. Obviously we turned that down.

MacAnthony also explained that Championship club Sheffield Wednesday also failed with a move for the 25-year-old and that Peterborough are in no rush to sell the player unless their valuation is met:

Sheffield Wednesday called us as he’s high on their manager’s list and, again, that didn’t get where we needed it to be.

We’re quite comfortable with Jack, he’s got a year left and we’ve got an option on that year. He’s been playing some of his best football since he’s come back training and he’s in great shape.

So there’s no immediate rush to get Jack out of the door. We paid a lot of money for him, he’s still a very, very young man and he’s a great man to have in the camp.

We’re pretty relaxed about that one.

You can watch the entire interview with MacAnthony below.

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

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Evans move closer?

Sunderland agreed a fee with Reading for their midfielder George Evans earlier in the week, but since that news broke Evans has been in Austria as part of Reading’s pre-season preparations.

It had been hoped that the player would have travelled to Sunderland by now to undergo a medical, but with the two parties haggling over personal terms that has not happened.

The transfer may have moved a step closer yesterday, though, as the 23-year-old was not included in the Reading squad that faced Rubin Kazan in a pre-season friendly. That follows the Manchester City youth product being an unused sub earlier in the week against Besiktas.

Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

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Moves galore

There were plenty of Sunderland related transfers either completed or on the verge of going through yesterday.

First up, Callum McManaman completed his quick fire return to Wigan Athletic. The winger signed a one-year deal for the Latics for an undisclosed fee.

Speaking to Wigan’s official website, McManaman praised Sunderland manager Jack Ross and tipped the club to succeed this season:

I’ve played in a few matches already in pre-season and got some minutes under my belt. The gaffer there is brilliant and I think they’ll do really well this season.

But the 27-year-old made it clear that he couldn’t wait to return to his first club:

It’s great to be back. All of the lads and the gaffer seem spot on. I saw a few bits on Twitter yesterday and today from the fans and it seems like everyone is happy. I’m buzzing to be a Latics player again.

I didn’t want to leave in the first place to be honest, so I’m made up to be home and to get going again.

I’ve been following games for the last few years, especially last season and the gaffer’s style definitely suits me. When I spoke to him he’s been great and all of the lads speak very highly of him.

I’ve had some great times at this club and I’m only still 27-years-old, so I can’t see why I can’t have more good times here. I want to go one better.

I don’t think I realised until I left just how good my first time at the club was, the grass isn’t always greener.

Wahbi Khazri completed his move to Saint-Etienne earlier this week, and he was officially unveiled by Les Verts yesterday.

Speaking to the press during the unveiling, Khazri explained that Saint-Etienne’s manager Jean-Louis Gasset was key to his decision to join the club:

I had the chance to play a world cup with Tunisia. I was then able to focus on my future. In the choice of Saint-Etienne, the speech of Jean-Louis Gasset was decisive. To be desired, at this point, by a historical club, one of the biggest French clubs, is very rewarding.

Former Sunderland striker Anthony Stokes has signed for Iranian side Tractor Sazi. The 29-year-old was a free agent after leaving Apollon Smyrni and joins Rangers midfielder Harry Forrester at the club managed by John Toshack.

French midfielder El-Hadji Ba - who had a short spell at Sunderland after being signed during the Roberto Di Fanti era - has signed for Ligue 2 side RC Lens. Since leaving Sunderland he has had spells at Charlton Athletic, Stabæk and Sochaux.

Another former Sunderland midfielder - but still current boo-boy - Jack Colback has left Newcastle United and joined Championship club Nottingham Forest on loan with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

Billy Jones has finally found a new club after being released by Sunderland at the end of the season. The right-back has signed for Championship outfit Rotherham United on a two-year deal.

The defender explained that he was looking forward to a fresh start after a nightmare few years with Sunderland:

To be part of something good is fantastic for me. It has been a tough last couple of seasons at Sunderland, so it is great to have a fresh start here.

Jones made his debut for the Miller during a 3-1 behind closed doors friendly win against Grimsby Town as the 31-year-old came on a second half substitute in an unfamiliar midfield role.

Another less than popular former Sunderland player is set for a new club, as James McClean passed a medical ahead of a move to Stoke City.

The winger is expected to complete his move to the Potteries over the weekend for a fee of around £5m.