Roker Roundup: Sunderland’s bid for George Dobson has been REJECTED as ‘the offer is too low’

Offers rejected for target

Sunderland are chasing Walsall skipper George Dobson, with Jack Ross intent on adding the midfielder to his squad for the forthcoming season.

The 21-year-old was left out of his side’s one-all draw with Leamington last night due to the speculation over his summer and Walsall manager Darrell Clarke revealed that his club have rejected unacceptable bids for the player:

George Dobson and Morgan Ferrier - we have had bids from clubs that haven’t been acceptable.

They have shown a desire to leave, which is football.

What I will say is they won’t be going anywhere until they meet the figure we have set, simple as that.

For me, I have to build without them. That can change, you never know in football.

The way the game works now, with agents involved, players see a big, big pay rise may be around the corner. And sometimes they want to leave.

But they won’t be disrespecting the club. And to be fair they have been knuckling down. They won’t mess me about that’s for sure because if they do I’ll chop them off at the knees. But they know that.

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

Reported target set for Dubai move

Former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos left the Teeside club at the end of last month once his contract at the Riverside expired and he had been linked with a move to Sunderland as back up to Jon McLaughlin.

Sunderland have since brought in Lee Burge but Konstantopoulos says he is now likely to head to Dubai join an unnamed club:

One year in Dubai is looking likely at this stage. I’m looking forward to a new challenge, I want a new challenge to start a fresh and will see how I am after that.

I haven’t thought of retiring this summer, but my plan is that I want to coach after I retire. I have not set a date for when that is. I have done by B Licence and I’m now working towards my A.

I have been open in general to things since realising I would not be staying at Middlesbrough. Agents ring you, ask you stuff, ask if you are interested in this and that, and Dubai came up.

When you take everything into consideration, chat with the family, then it’s about if it is what you are willing to take. The terms seem right and it will be an experience if I go out there. I’m still in negotiations so I don’t want to name the club yet.

Photo by Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Former coach joins Man Utd

Sunderland’s former Head of Strength and Conditioning Michael Clegg has joined Manchester United as their strength and power coach.

Clegg spent over a decade at the Stadium of Light after being brought to the club by Roy Keane but left the club in the summer of 2018 after Stewart Donald’s takeover of the club was completed.

He has now been appointed into the same role for the Red Devils that his father - Mike - held for 11 years.

Clegg was kind enough to sit down for an interview with Roker Report earlier in the year, and you can read that HERE.

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