Roker Roundup: 18-goal Plymouth Argyle striker back on the market if Sunderland want him

Rivals pull out of striker deal

Reports from the local press in Plymouth last week suggested both Sunderland and Portsmouth were close to agreeing a £500,000 deal for the Plymouth Argyle’s top scorer Freddie Lapado, with an unnamed club believed to have made an offer for the forward, and Brentford also showing interest.

The 26-year-old was in demand after a season which saw him notch 18 times in League One, and after January interest from the two clubs was rebuffed in January, both were believed to be keen to sign him this summer.

Should Sunderland want to press ahead with their interest, then they will have a clearer run at him after Portsmouth pulled out of a deal to sign the striker.

Reports suggest that Pompey pulled out due to Lapado’s wage demands, and will no longer pursue the player - instead turning their attention elsewhere.

Poom not interested in Estonia job

Estonia’s national team was thrashed 8-0 by Germany during the last round of international fixtures, a result which leaves them in last place in Group C of the UEFA European Qualifiers.

That result saw Martin Reim resign as manager of the national team, with several coaches following him out of the door.

One of those coaches was Mart Poom, who has since been linked with the vacant manager role, but the former Sunderland goalkeeper says he not only is he not qualified for the role and is only interested in being a goalkeeper coach for now:

First of all, I don’t have a license – that’s the first criteria.

Of course, this is a prestigious role, but at the moment I have no ambitions along those lines.

I feel I would have a lot more to give as goalkeeping coach. I have the greatest passion for this profession. If necessary, I will always agree to help the youth team. At this stage of my life and career, I’m saying no, but never say never in the future.

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Lens sues former club

Former Sunderland winger Jeremain Lens has taken one of his former clubs to court for non-payment of wages.

Sunderland signed the Dutch international from Dynamo Kiev for £8 million back in 2015 and the 31-year-old has now filed a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland against the Ukrainian side.

Dynamo reportedly still owe Lens €250,000 in wages and a bonus of €50,000 - the player will represent his case in court on July 31.

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images