Roker Roundup: Report claims Sunderland scouts will watch €20m Turkish international on Sunday

Scouts set to watch Intercontinental Derby

Sunderland were bizarrely linked with Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan last week, with reports claiming that we were competing with Southampton and Everton for his services.

The Turkish international is set to feature for his club in the Intercontinental Derby on Sunday and Fanatik claim that Sunderland, as well as Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, will have scouts present to run the rule over the 24-year-old.

He has a release clause of €20m written into his contract and and his agent told Turkish-Football.com that Tufan is keen to head to Europe in the summer:

Ozan has always wanted to play in Europe. He returned to Fenerbahce and felt he had a debt to pay.

He wants to leave the club as a player who made Fenerbahce a return. And he does have a €20m release clause which will be his way of giving back.

Sartori starts work as Senator

Sunderland director Juan Sartori officially started his new career as a senator in the Uruguayan government on Saturday, after being voted in during the November elections.

Sartori started his five-year spell as a Senator with a promise to Teledoce that he will bring a lot of commitment to his new role:

A new era begins, a new era.

I am living it with a lot of emotion. I think about the whole year we live, campaigning, of carrying forward all the ideas we had. I think of all those who supported us, in the least good moments and in the moments of joy.

I am going to assume this position of senator with a lot of commitment. I hope in these five years to be able to play a great role as a senator, which is what people have voted for.

I think that a little more can be done than simply passing good laws and negotiating Parliament. In the Legislative yes, but in the free time a little executive too.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Academy roundup

Sunderland youngster Francis Okoronkwo has signed a deal that will see his blossoming career looked after by Pitch Representation.

The talented 15-year-old has featured at a training camp with England and even went to Italy as a 10-year-old on behalf of AC Milan.

Academy product Oscar Krusnell left Sunderland to return to his native Sweden with Hammarby in 2017 but his contract is up in the summer and will not be renewed according to FotbollDirekt.se.

They got on to say that despite being released in the summer, a number of Swedish second flight clubs are interested in signing the player.

Finally, you can watch some potential Sunderland stars of the future in the YouTube video below, as our under-13s take on their Wigan Athletic counterparts.

SAFC.com