Roker Roundup: Bryan Oviedo updates on Sunderland future & explains deadline day transfer fiasco

Oviedo on his Sunderland future

After being missing in action for most of 2019 through injury and almost leaving the club for West Bromwich Albion in January, Bryan Oviedo returned to the Sunderland line-up earlier this month.

Although he is likely to leave the club in the summer, the left-back told Radio Monumental back in his homeland that he has one year remaining on his contract at the Stadium of Light and although it would make it easier to find a new club if he was a free agent, he says Sunderland may still offer him a new deal:

I signed a Premier League contract and for them it’s difficult to keep a salary like mine after two relegations. Being free would make it easier to find a club.

I have one more year of contract left. Sunderland will seek to renew or seek an exit option for me.

Oviedo also reiterated that his move to West Brom fell through in January due to relevant paperwork not being sent on time on transfer deadline day:

Since the window opened, the club wanted me to leave. I went to the [training] center of West Bromwich and at the end of the day the respective document was not sent to finalize the transaction.

Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Mixed injury news for Ligue 1 duo

Shortly after scoring his first goal for Bordeaux since his January move from Sunderland, Josh Maja picked up a knee injury against Nimes which will see him ruled out for the remainder of the season.

The striker is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery to repair his meniscus which he picked up in the Nimes defeat, the 20-year-old also strained knee ligaments and is expected to be out for six to seven weeks.

There was better news for on-loan Sunderland defender Lamine Kone though, as the Ivory Coast international is set to return to the Strasbourg squad this weekend after he picked up a groin injury as his side won the French League Cup against Guingamp last month.

Pools open talks with Sunderland-linked forward

Hartlepool United have opened talks over a new contract with attacking midfielder Josh Hawkes, a reported target for Sunderland.

Pools have the option of a further year, an option that will be taken up at the end of the season but they hope to tie the in-demand 20-year-old down to a longer deal.

Hawkes has scored nine goals for Hartlepool in the National League this season, with that form attracting plenty of interest. As well as Sunderland, Burnley, Huddersfield, Sheffield United, Hull City, Barnsley, Middlesbrough and Newcastle have all shown interest.