Roker Roundup: Linked Scottish forward discusses Sunderland interest; Asoro & Sessegnon craic

Linked forward discusses interest

Sunderland were linked with a move for former Rangers starlet Owen McGinty back in November, with the Scottish Sun claiming the club were tracking the 18-year-old winger.

The player himself has discussed that interest and disclosed that he has had to wait until the transfer window opened before any move could happen, as he would require international clearance to move to England.

He is currently without a club after leaving Ayr United but says that he has heard that Sunderland, as well as Bournemouth and Swansea City are interested in his services:

I would love the opportunity to join an English Premiership side at under 23 level. I have heard that Bournemouth, Swansea and Sunderland are interested but I have to wait until the January transfer window kicks in so I can get international clearance for a potential move.

Visiting Madrid gave me a taste for life on the continent and I would love a move there too.

Speaking about his style of play, McGinty says although he is a fan of Lionel Messi, he models his own game on Eden Hazard:

I model my game on Eden Hazard and I am a great admirer of Lionel Messi too.

The youngster was recently in Madrid to shoot a commerical featuring Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak, an opportunity that was set up by Sunderland academy product Lee Robinson:

It was an exciting trip and it was a great experience firing in some shots against a keeper who is considered to be the best in the world.

Asoro on Sunderland move

Joel Asoro is currently on-loan at FC Groningen from Championship outfit Swansea City after falling down the pecking order at the Liberty Stadium.

After a slow start in the Eredivisie, the Sunderland academy product has started the last seven league games for Groningen and has been speaking to the club’s website about his time at the Dutch side.

During the discussion, Asoro spoke about initially signing for Sunderland and how, after a difficult first season with the academy, he bypassed the under-18 and under-23 side and went straight into the first team during the relegation season in the Championship:

I don’t know exactly why Sunderland was interested in me, but I think they saw me play during a tournament. Scouts are everywhere nowadays.

I’ve always had something with England. I was an Arsenal fan when Thierry Henry was still playing there. I wanted to go to England to become a better football player. From a football perspective, there was no reason for me to stay in Sweden.

The transition from Sweden to England was of course great at such a young age. Fortunately my mother was with us, but it was indeed not easy. I had trouble with the language, did not speak English fluently. That made it difficult. I also had to go to school, so everything came at once.

In my opinion, the first year at Sunderland didn’t go well either. I didn’t play much, not even in under-18. That was quite frustrating. At the end of that 2015/2016 season, I participated with Sweden in the European Under-17 European Championship and that went well.

At the start of the following season, I was suddenly in the first selection, without having played much for under-18 and under-20.

Photo by Erwin Otten/Soccrates/Getty Images

Sessegnon never wanted to leave

Stephane Sessegnon left Sunderland in 2013 to join then Premier League rivals West Bromwich Albion in a deal worth up to £6m.

The talented forward was forced out by Paolo Di Canio after the Benin international was arrested for drink driving on the night of a game.

Sessegnon currently plays for Genclerbirligi in the Turkish top flight and speaking on Turkish journalist Ukur Karakullukcu’s YouTube channel, he revealed that he was enjoying his time at the club and never wanted to leave but had no option but to find a new club once Di Canio had made his decision:

I was enjoying it at Sunderland, I had a very good time there. But then I left the club, this kind of thing can happen in football. The managers always make decisions, and the Sunderland manager made a decision about me, so I respect that.

When I decided I had to leave Sunderland, I needed to find another club. All I was thinking at the time was my professional career.

Photo credit should read GRAHAM STUART/AFP/GettyImages