Asoro’s departure from Stadium of Light ‘expected within days’
JACK Ross expects Joel Asoro to leave Wearside in the coming days – and explained that was why the youngster was left out at Darlington.
The teenager was originally due to play half-an-hour of Sunderland’s first friendly but that plan changed when the club agreed a £2m fee with Swansea City for him on Monday.
And while he was named on the teamsheet on Tuesday night, he did not sit on the bench, watching the game from a balcony in the clubhouse at Blackwell Meadows instead.
“Joel was scheduled to play the last half-hour, but things have moved on in terms of him possibly leaving the club,” said Ross.
“It’s not agreed and finalised, but it looks more than likely that he will leave the club.”
Asked whether he was frustrated at the likelihood of losing Asoro, who is in the final year of his contract, Ross said: “Ideally, as a manager, you want to keep all your good players here but I understood the position the club is in and the turnover of players we would have – it’s probably going to get bigger.
“I’d say it [Asoro’s departure] was inevitable.”
Ross’ squad is short of numbers and he desperately needs to bring in more firepower and also strengthen in central defence.
But he says there are no imminent incomings with the club still concentrating on getting players out of the door.
“Not at the moment,” he said when asked if any incoming transfers were imminent.
“There’s been a lot of time and energy spent on those that will leave the club, which is understandable.
“At the moment I need to try and get the best out of what I have and hopefully in the next week to 10 days there will be things imminent.”