Sunderland news round-up: Tees-Wear derby game confirmed, Jordan Pickford lays down challenge plus transfer latest

Pickford has starred for the Black Cats this season since breaking into the first team and has caught the eye of several top Premier League sides, with City among them.

Pep Guardiola has had a goalkeeping problem all season after allowing England No 1 Joe Hart to leave on loan with Claudio Bravo and Willy Caballero both struggling to make the position their own.

City's interest in Pickford is well known but fresh reports have linked City with a £30million summer move for Marc-Andre ter Stegen from Guardiola's former club Barcelona.

If City were to land the German goalkeeper it would put an end to their interest in Pickford, according to reports.

The Sunderland stopper is currently away with England Under-21s while the Premier League takes a two-week break.

Pickford pleased with clean sheet and challenges forwards to take their chances:

Meanwhile, the England Under-21 stopper was pleased that he and his defence were able to keep a first clean sheet since the beginning of February against Burnley - and hopes relegation-threatened Sunderland can find their goalscoring touch up the other end.

Pickford was in typically excellent shot-stopping form, drawing praise from Burnley boss Sean Dyche for a late save from Sam Vokes that kept the scores level.

"At least we kept the goals to zero and got the clean sheet," said Pickford.

"The defending started from the front, with Fabio (Borini) and Jermain (Defoe) closing down and working hard to get the ball back.

"We managed to do that as a unit and it is just about getting the goals now."

Read the full story here:Date of crunch Tees-Wear derby confirmed:

The Premier League has finally confirmed the date for Sunderland's rearranged game away to relegation rivals Middlesbrough.

David Moyes will take his Sunderland side to the Riverside on Wednesday, April 26 (KO 7.45pm) for a huge game at the bottom of the Premier League.

The North East rivals are both battling for top flight survival with Sunderland currently seven points adrift and neighbours Boro a place and two points ahead of them at the foot of the table.

The game was originally due to take place on March 11 but the game was rearranged due to Boro's involvement in the FA Cup.

Officials at the Premier League have finally confirmed the date of the rearranged fixture, which is set to be a vital game in the fight for survival and one of the biggest Tees-Wear derby games in recent history.

Sunderland will be backed by almost 3,000 fans at the Riverside, with away tickets for the game already sold out.

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