Roker Roundup: Sunderland Head of Recruitment Tony Coton speaks on transfers - loans incoming?

Coton goes dating

Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge hosted a football ‘speed-dating’ event this week, as representatives of over 100 clubs from around the world gathered to discuss potential transfers.

Sunderland were one of the clubs represented, with head of recruitment Tony Coton in attendance to try and find the club a loan player or two, as well finding buyers for some of the high earners at the club.

Talking to the New York Times, Coton explained the benefit of the event over the traditional route of dealing with agents:

If you can progress talks with the two clubs then you’re in a stronger position than an agent trying to broker deals, getting in this, getting that.

Here I will hear it from the horse’s mouth now, exactly how much the player’s earning at that club and I can say, ‘Yes we can go to that,’ or ‘No we can’t go to that,’ without the agent getting involved because invariably the agent will inflate what he’s on to try and increase his wages and for a loan I don’t think that’s right.

Roker Report

Sunderland miss out

Stoke City defender Harry Souttar had a successful loan spell at Sunderland’s League One rivals Fleetwood Town during the second half of last season.

The 20-year-old rejoined Joey Barton’s side yesterday on a season-long loan and according to the Stoke Sentinel, Fleetwood beat off competition from both Sunderland and Portsmouth for the player’s signature.

Despite signing Jordan Willis this summer, Jack Ross has still been linked with the likes of Souttar, Ben Heneghan and Harry Brockbank, suggesting he intends to further strengthen the middle of his defence.

Photo by Chris Vaughan - CameraSport via Getty Images

Williams returns to The Valley

Charlton Athletic have re-signed former Sunderland midfielder Jonny Williams, two months after he was released by the club.

The Welsh international had been training with the Addicks during pre-season and has now signed a one-year deal with the newly promoted Championship side, with the option of another year.

Speaking about re-signing Williams, Lee Bowyer praised the 25-year-old for taking a pay cut to make the deal happen:

I’m delighted to be able to get him back.

Jonny has dropped his wage a hell of a lot to come here and I’m grateful to him for doing that. I think that just shows how much he enjoyed last season with us.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images