Cats tipped to spurn offers to lure Xhaka away from Wearside

CAPTAIN GOING NOWHERE, SAYS FORMER SCOUT

- By CLIVE YOULTON Football writer

BUSY Sunderland continue to be involved in activity and chat around the January transfer window which is fast approaching.

And Black Cats fans will be pleased to hear that skipper Granit Xhaka will be staying put in January, according to former Sunderland and Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown.

He has told Football Insider that the club will not entertain January bids for Xhaka. The 33-year-old midfielder, who arrived for £17.3m from Bayer Leverkusen, is viewed as a key figure in Regis Le Bris' squad despite interest from Juventus and other European sides and is therefore not for sale.

The Black Cats are interested in 18-year-old Angers forward Sidiki Cherif and the race for his signature now includes Wrexham, according to Football Insider. The teenager is also attracting interest from Newcastle and Fulham after a strong breakthrough season in Ligue 1.