Euro giants lurking, but Asoro stays

Teenage Sunderland striker Joel Asoro is reported to have caught the eye of European giants Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

The 17-year-old Swede burst onto the first-team scene this summer, impressing in pre-season in France, and started the midweek EFL Cup win over Shrewsbury Town.

However, his agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, has been quoted in Sweden confirming that Asoro will remain on Wearside, adding he will look to negotiate a new contract once the transfer window has closed.

He is currently on a youth contract until the summer of 2019.

Cetinkaya told the Swedish press: “It is true that I have met several clubs about Joel and there are some who want to buy him loose before the transfer window closes. But the plan is that he stays in Sunderland.

“We have obviously a plan for Joel and it is especially important to have it with him as he is just 17 years old. It would be foolish not to stick to the plan.

“A big reason for that Joel chose Sunderland is their scout, Bjarne Hansen. He who was behind it all when the club acquired Joel.

“He and the club has always had a clear plan for Joel and it has been adhered to.

“They have done that and he has developed all the time and now plays in the Premier League as a 17-year-old. It’s unbelievable.

“When the window closes and things have calmed down for everyone, I’ll go over to Sunderland and discuss a first-team contract for Joel.”