ROKER ROUNDUP: Sunderland are NOT interested in a loan deal for highly-rated Norwich defender

Sunderland miss out on defender

Media reports yesterday evening suggested that Rotherham United are set beat Sunderland to the signature of Norwich City defender Sean Raggett.

According to PA Sport reporter Nick Mashiter, Sunderland had hoped to sign the central defender but The Millers will beat us to the punch as they look to wrap up a season-long loan deal for the 24-year-old.

If you recognise the name, well that’s likely to be due to our interest in the then Lincoln City player last summer, when Simon Grayson missed out on him when he was snapped up by Norwich City.

Despite claims that we lost out in the race to sign Raggett, Roker Report understands that Sunderland never had any interest in the defender and are concentrating their efforts in strengthening at centre back elsewhere.

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SPL side deny talks

Sunderland have been regularly linked with Kilmarnock winger Jordan Jones this summer, and a report emerged in the Daily Mail this week that we had opened talks with the Scottish side with a view to signing the 23-year-old.

That report was quickly refuted by ‘club sources’ in the Daily Record, who denied that any such talks have taken place.

Speaking after his side’s 3-0 Betfred Cup victory over Spartans - a game in which Jones started - Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke also denied that Sunderland had made an approach for the winger:

I don’t mind answering stories when they are correct and there’s some substance to them, but there’s no substance to that story at all.

The Daily Record report does go on to say that we are thought to be interested in the former Middlesbrough player and we may still look to sign a winger during this window after Callum McManaman left the club to re-join Wigan Athletic.

Photo by Christian Cooksey/Getty Images

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Sharp features against Inter

While Sunderland wait around to see what Sheffield United are going to do with Billy Sharp, the striker played a part last night in the Blades’ 1-1 draw with Inter Milan.

Sharp came off the substitutes bench with 12 minutes left, and with the score tied at 1-1 he nearly snatched a winner, only for his shot to be saved by Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanović.

Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

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Sunderland hold interest in Exeter striker

Sunderland are reportedly interested in Exeter City striker Jayden Stockley.

According to Sky Sports, Preston and Ipswich are keen on the 24-year-old and the new MK Dons manager Paul Tisdale would like to be reunited with the player he signed for Exeter for a club-record fee from Aberdeen.

The report also claims Jack Ross is tracking the 6’4” forward, who scored 24 goals for The Grecians last season as his team lost out in the play-off final to Coventry City, but Sky Sports say Sunderland are focusing their efforts on securing a deal for Bradford City striker Charlie Wyke.

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images