Fenerbahce keen to extend Jeremain Lens stay, double fitness boost for Manchester City

Fenerbahce are keen to see Jeremain Lens stay with them next season - but are looking to secure another loan rather than permanent transfer according to reports.
Jeremain LensJeremain Lens
Jeremain Lens

The 29-year-old forward has been a success since arriving on loan with the Turkish giants, scoring four goals in 22 appearances this season.

Reports in Turkey say Fenerbahce - managed by ex-Black Cats boss Dick Advocaat - are keen to see Lens stay with them next season but on a loan rather than permanent deal.

Pep GuardiolaPep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola
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It remains to be seen whether the club would be willing to sanction another loan deal for Lens, who failed to land a regular starting place at Sunderland.

The Dutch international, who arrived for around £8million from Dynamo Kiev in the summer of 2015, is on a season-long loan with the Turkish side.

Sunderland team news ahead of Manchester City

Sunderland utility man Jason Denayer will sit out against parent club Manchester City at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Pep GuardiolaPep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola

Denayer is ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement, although central defender Papy Djilobodji returns to contention after serving a four-match ban.

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Keeper Vito Mannone has recovered from illness and Billy Jones is available after having stitches in a head wound, but Jack Rodwell (hamstring) is being assessed and the game will come too soon for midfielders Jan Kirchhoff (knee) and Steven Pienaar (calf). Paddy McNair, Duncan Watmore, Victor Anichebe (all knee) and Lee Cattermole (hip) are still out.

Provisional squad: Pickford, Mannone, Jones, Manquillo, Oviedo, Love, O'Shea, Kone, Djilobodji, Lescott, Ndong, Gibson, Larsson, Borini, Januzaj, Khazri, Gooch, Honeyman, Defoe, Maja.

Pep Guardiola handed double fitness boost

Guardiola has been handed a double fitness boost - with Vincent Kompany back in contention for a starting place after recovering from a leg injury sustained in training and Aleksandar Kolarov also returning after two-week lay-off.

"Kolarov is fit, yeah," the City boss told his pre-match press conference.

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"I think it must not be easy for Vincent. I understand completely because what happened in the training session was nothing, it was not serious like before.

"It is the last process. Yesterday he trained with us, so he is ready to come back. Since the previous injury it was a month or a month and a half being fit.

"Of course, he didn’t play because of my decision - but he was fit.

"Hopefully that happens in the last two, three months of the season."