Cats reject a loan move for Ndong

SUNDERLAND have turned down a loan bid from Watford for midfielder Didier Ndong, with Black Cats’ boss Chris Coleman confirming the midfielder wants to leave.

Coleman says Sunderland have received more than one enquiry for the Gabon international but Watford are the only side to have so far put forward a concrete offer.

However the Black Cats are only interested in a cash sale or a loan deal leading to a permanent move, not one which hinges on appearances - as with Watford’s offer.

Ndong, who cost around £14m when he joined Sunderland from Lorient in the summer of 2016, is one of several players Coleman is prepared to let leave this month with Lamine Kone and Jack Rodwell also on that list.

Coleman said: “We have had no contact for any of these players except for Ndong.

“That was a loan deal we are not prepared to do because we would stand to gain nothing out of that.

“We have had enquiries about Didier but for loan deals and that is not going to work for Sunderland Football Club.

“It has to be a team coming in and saying ‘we want this player, this is the deal’, not ‘yeah, but we will take him on loan depending on appearances.’

“The player is never going to reach the appearances – I am not daft, the player is going to end up a couple of appearances short at the end of the season and then he will come back to us.

“They have had the player for nothing, they have used him, and then we are left with the player.

“There has to be a financial gain for us.”

Ndong has not played since Christmas due to injury but he resumed training this week, although Coleman had as of last night not decided whether to involve him in this afternoon’s Championship game at Cardiff City.

Coleman added: “Ndong has trained this week and he has trained quite well.

“It will depend where he is mentally.

“I am not giving any secrets away – he knows all about the interest from Watford but the deal is not right for us.

“If I think he is not mentally ready then I cannot afford to take him with us.”