It's been another quiet day in terms of Sunderland transfer news, but ex-SAFC man Chris Maguire is now in the headlines for all the wrong reasons...
BRIGHTON DEFENDER LINKED
Sunderland need defensive reinforcements after Dan Ballard suffered a major blow against QPR. They're supposedly looking at Jan Paul van Hecke, who spent last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers from Brighton. A Dutch Under-21 international, van Hecke actually earned Blackburn's Player of the Season award as a centre-half who is good in the air and comfortable on the ball (seemingly in the same mould as Ballard). Reports suggest that van Hecke is set to sign a new long term contract at Brighton, before joining the Lads on loan for the season.
SAFC 'MONITORING' LINCOLN WINGER SCULLY
In other transfer news, Anthony Scully could leave Lincoln before the end of the transfer window, with Sunderland one of many clubs at Championship and League One level keeping tabs on the winger. The 23-year-old already has a goal and an assist to his name this season, and while gaffer Mark Kennedy played down any speculation he also admitted that losing the winger is a real possibility: We want to hold onto our players. Anthony has had a great start to the season. I am not aware of anything. I don’t get involved in any of that until I’ve got news, whether it’s a player coming in or somebody going out. I don’t waste my energy on useless information. Hand on my heart, I am not aware of anything that we’ve had a bid for our player. We don’t want to lose our best players. Player trading is part of our model. It’s something we should be proud of. To bring players in, develop them and sell them on. The club are brilliant. They don’t sell the players and then stick the money in their back pockets. They invest it back into the club so as long as things like that are the right decision from the club. Nobody likes to lose their best players, but if it is in the best interest of the club. I spoke to Clive (Nates) during the week and he has got my full support on that.”
MAGUIRE SUSPENDED
Staying on the topic of Lincoln City, ex-SAFC man Chris Maguire has been suspended by the club pending an investigation into alleged breaches of betting rules. Maguire allegedly placed 52 bets over a five-year period between March 2017 and February 2022. Interestingly, he was playing for Sunderland during that timeframe. An FA statement read: "Chris Maguire has been charged with misconduct in relation to an alleged breach of the FA's betting rules. It is alleged that the Lincoln City FC forward breached FA Rule E8 by placing 52 bets on football matches between 17 March 2017 and 12 February 2022. Chris Maguire has until Tuesday August 30 to provide a response." In a statement of their own Lincoln City said: "Chris has been suspended by Lincoln City without prejudice until further notice."
