Roker Roundup: Sunderland linked with winger but face competition & Kimpioka SENT OFF for Sweden

Mowbray relaxed on Downing

Sunderland have been linked with a move for soon to be out of contract Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing.

There is said to be competition for the 34-year-old in the form of Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday and Steven Gerrard’s Rangers.

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray has admitted that his side have had discussions with the former England international but no offer has been forthcoming just yet:

There’s no offer, there’s been conversations.

Stewart is an out of contact footballer. I’m relaxed and comfortable.

If Stewart Downing wants to come to Blackburn Rovers then I think he’s a very talented footballer.

If he wants to go to any of the other clubs that have been mentioned then that’s fine also, whether that’s to play more football or earn a few more quid.

That would be no problem.

I know him from my ties with Middlesbrough Football Club over a number of years and he has decisions to make. He has options. My personality isn’t to beat him with a stick and say ‘if we don’t know by Friday then forget it you’re not coming’.

Footballers have to make the right decision and if they are to come to your football club they need to weigh things up, decide what’s right for them, feel the positives or negatives about what the managers have spoken about and then make the decisions.

Kimpioka sees red

Benji Kimpioka has had a good start to his Swedish under-21 career, with the Sunderland youngster scoring twice and picking up an assist in his first three games.

The fourth game did not go as well for him personally, though, as the 19-year-old was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The game against Finland was 2-2 with just minutes remaining when Kimpioka was booked in the 89th and 90th minute, but 10-man Sweden stole it at the death when Emil Hansson converted a last gasp penalty.

Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

McManaman keen to link up with former Sunderland team-mate

Former Sunderland winger Callum McManaman will join League One champions Luton Town on July 1st, once his contract with Wigan Athletic expires.

The 28-year-old has been speaking about his move to the Hatters and says he is looking forward to teaming up once again with his former Sunderland team-mate Kazenga LuaLua.

The duo had a spell at the Stadium of Light during the club’s ill-fated 2017-18 Championship season and McManaman is hoping that LuaLua stays at Kenilworth Road:

I played with him at Sunderland the season before last, he’s a good player, a good lad as well.

We didn’t have the best season as a club obviously, but you could still tell he was a good player.

It would be brilliant if he could sign and we can both get on the pitch and take it to teams.

He’s a similar player to me, a skilful and clever player, so that would be great.

Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images