Sunderland AFC transfer news: Brown set to train with Blackburn Rovers, interest in Defoe quashed

The former Manchester United and England defender may be 36 but as previously revealed to the Echo, he plans to carry on playing next season.

Brown said: "Until the knees can’t carry on, I’ll try to play as long as possible."

The ex-England international penned a one-year contract extension last summer, with a view to being limited to a back-up role.

He was released in the summer along with striker Danny Graham - who recently signed for Rovers - Steven Fletcher and Steve Harper.

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Meanwhile, several Premier League clubs were circling around Jermain Defoe prior to the Sunderland striker penning a new contract at the Stadium of Light earlier this month.

But, with Sunderland quashing the interest in Defoe by extending his deal, Sam Allardyce’s main focus at the formal opening of the transfer window is to recruit an extra frontman to complement the Black Cats Player of the Year.

Defoe added an extra year to his Sunderland tenure earlier this month, to take his contract through to the summer of 2019 – by which time the England international will be 36.

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