Sunderland watching Okore

SUNDERLAND are among a cluster of Premier League clubs keeping tabs on rookie Denmark centre-half Jores Okore.

The Black Cats are understood to have watched the 20-year-old in action for Danish outfit Nordsjaelland, twice thrashed by Chelsea in the group stages of the Champions League this season.

Okore is not expected to leave Scandinavia during the January transfer window, but the summer could spark a move for the highly-rated four-time Denmark international.

Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle are among the clubs who have also scouted Okore, with Fulham rumoured to have seen a £2.5million bid rejected earlier this month.

After being boosted by the windfall of Champions League football, Nordsjaelland are under less pressure to sell, but it is understood that a bid of around £4m could tempt them.

Nordsjaelland are eager to keep Okore in his homeland until the end of the season though, with the club lying second in the table at the halfway point of the campaign.

Sporting director Jan Laursen said: “We are keeping a cool head when it comes to offers. It goes without saying that Jores Okore is an important player in our team, but, of course, we look at everything that is being presented to us.

“But both Jores and us can afford to be a bit more picky than your average club and average player.

Sunderland have already boost their central defensive ranks this month with the capture of 6ft 5in Senegalese international Kader Mangane.

The loan move for Mangane could be made permanent in the summer, if the Al-Hilal man impresses at the Stadium of Light. But manager Martin O’Neill is still on the look-out for long-term reinforcements at centre-half, even if he signs Mangane.

Neither Titus Bramble nor Matt Kilgallon are likely to be retained when their contracts expire at the end of the season, while Wes Brown is less than a fortnight away from marking a year on the treatment table.

Okore’s agent Nikola Juric said: “There is major interest in Jores Okore and it is flattering looking at the list of clubs he is being linked with.

“When he is going to make a decision, it is of major importance that we sense the club has a clear plan for his future.

“We aim for stability. Jores is not going to one place only to go out on loan to another club.”

Okore, who didn’t feature in Nordsjaelland’s 6-1 thrashing at Chelsea last month, is not the only young defender to have been linked with a move to Sunderland. Reports this week have indicated Sunderland are ready to make a £2m bid for 6ft 2in Barnsley right-back John Stones, who is also interesting Wigan, Everton, Fulham and Chelsea








know nothing about the lad

 

He looks good poolie and he doesn't support the mags

 

Remember they had a centre midfielder who looked great, his name escapes me.

 

All I know about him is that, on Football Manager, he gets pretty good.

On that basis, go get him MON!

 

Off the back of about 30 minutes of me watching him, the young kid looks very decent. Would suit a club like SAFC/NUFC/FFC who could offer him first team football to develop his game, but he seems destined according to the media for big things. I was impressed but not sure he could command a place at United just yet. We have Jones, Evans and Smalling for when Rio and Vidic are out so healthy competition, he'd obviously go sour at City with their pathetic coaching staff and he'd get lost under all of the other 'talent' at Chelsea. Would like United to buy him and loan him out for a year or two.

Was speaking to a scouser last night (urgh, skin is still crawling...I jest he's a good mate) I'd not heard this before but a pet name they have for your old boy Jordan Henderson had me laughing for a little while... Jordan Mackemlele - did you guys come up with that or was it that lot?