Roker Roundup: Player linked with Sunderland is leaving Aberdeen & competition for Sanderson?

Target to depart

Sunderland have been strongly linked with Aberdeen midfielder Ethan Ross in recent weeks as the club look to make their first signing of the summer.

The 19-year-old’s contract at Pittodrie is set to expire at the end of the month and The Press and Journal say that, although Dons manager Stephen Glass was hopeful of convincing the winger to sign a new deal, Ross has informed the club that he will not be returning.

As well as Sunderland, the Scottish youth international has also been linked with a move to Blackburn Rovers, the former club of Sunderland’s new head of player recruitment Stuart Harvey.

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Competition for Sanderson

Reports emerged earlier in the week that Sunderland had a £1m bid for former loanee Dion Sanderson rejected by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However if the club’s reigning Young Player of the Year is to return, it appears that heavy competition from Sheffield United will have to be fought off.

The Sheffield Star claim that Dion Sanderson expects the Blades to make a move for him later in the summer once Slavisa Jokanovic officially takes the reigns at Brammall Lane and conducts a review of the existing playing staff.

The report goes on to say that Sheffield United are aware of Sanderson’s preference for a move to the Championship, so will only bring forward their approach if a fellow Championship club make a move for the central defender.

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