Cats plot fire sale

SUNDERLAND are preparing for a summer fire sale as they brace themselves for relegation to League One.

The beleaguered Black Cats are already offering around some of their bigger earners as they try to significantly reduce the wage bill.

Chief among them is £70,000-a-week Jack Rodwell, who they again tried and failed to offload in January.

If by some miracle Chris Coleman’s men do escape several players will still take a serious pay hit.

That is because of clauses in some contracts which state wages will be reduced if the club are out of the Premier League for two consecutive seasons.

NEWCASTLE boss Rafa Benitez has mixed feelings about the omission of Jamaal Lascelles and Jonjo Shelvey from the latest England squad. The Toon duo were overlooked when Gareth Southgate announced his party for the forthcoming friendlies with Holland...