Roker Roundup: Trio of linked Sunderland transfer targets all sign for new clubs

Trio of targets move elsewhere

Three players who had been strongly linked with a move to the Stadium of Light recently all signed deals with other clubs yesterday.

Leyton Orient’s Josh Koroma, Stewart Downing of Middlesbrough and Oldham Athletic defender George Edmundson all found new clubs.

Sunderland had a bid for Koroma rejected in January and were thought to retain an interest in the 20-year-old forward but he has instead inked a long-term deal with Championship outfit Huddersfield Town.

Boro’s Downing is out of contract at the end of the month and had been linked with a return to Sunderland - where he spent a month on loan during the 2003-04 season - but Blackburn Rovers swooped for the former England international, who signed a one-year deal with the club.

Oldham’s highly rated central defender George Edmundson has left Boundary Park to sign for Steven Gerrard’s Rangers.

As well as Sunderland, the 21-year-old had been linked with a move to fellow League One clubs Peterborough United and Portsmouth but after agreeing a fee with Oldham for the player, Posh publically pulled out of the deal last week and Edmundson has headed to the Scottish Premiership side instead.

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Academy products find new clubs

Sunderland academy product Tommy Robson has found a new club after being released by Falkirk.

The left-back has signed a one-year deal with Partick Thistle, which will see him remain in the Scottish Championship after Falkirk were relegated last season.

Speaking about the move, the 23-year-old said the club’s ambition made the transfer to Thistle a no-brainer:

I finished up at Falkirk at the end of last season and I was out of contract. I went home then my agent contacted me and said I had a couple of offers up in Scotland and asked if I’d be interested to come back up. Obviously, Partick Thistle was one option and he was telling me about how ambitious the Club was going to be this season, and that’s exactly what I want to be part of.

At Falkirk last year I played a lot of left-wing back but played left midfield a couple of times too. Left-back I like as well but really it’s anywhere up the left. I love to bomb forward and get crosses into the box.

Another academy product in Alejandro Gorrin has also found a new club, as he joined Oxford United on a free transfer earlier this week.

Gorrin had a few different clubs interested in his services after a successful stint at Motherwell but decided to join Oxford thanks to how keen they were to bring him on board:

There were a couple of interested clubs, but Oxford were there from the start, they showed a lot of interest and belief.

I think it’s a great option for me and I think it’s the perfect place to keep improving – I’m very excited.

I would like to keep improving as a player.

I know League One is a tough division, there is a lot of quality and a lot of big teams, so I’m expecting a tough season. I’m mentally ready for it.

I did a little bit of research on the club when I heard they were interested and I was very excited.

It’s a great club, they’re doing things right, and they have a new training facility which is outstanding.

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