Crewe boss David Artell reveals what he has told Sunderland-linked Owen Dale

The 22-year-old forward is in demand this summer with a number of clubs already linked with him this summer including the Black Cats and Wycombe Wanderers.

Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers have also been linked.

No bids have yet been received.

Artell told the club’s official web-site: “We have not had any bids for any of our players and I’ve told the likes of Owen (Dale) that.

“There have been no offers for any of our players. If that will be the case as we get closer to the start of the new season? I really don’t know.

“What I do know is that I am on the same page as the chairman and the board. They have all told me the same thing, we have our valuation and if it’s not met then it is not considered.

“We are in a much stronger position on that now and we are all singing from the same hymn sheet.”

Sunderland head coach Lee Johnson, Kristjaan Speakman and the club’s recruitment team are currently assessing a number of potential targets ahead of a first foray into the market.

Sunderland have already allowed seven players to leave the club following the expiration of their contracts, while talks remain ongoing with Charlie Wyke, Denver Hume, Aiden McGeady and Luke O’Nien on extending their stays.

But even if all of the quartet put pen to paper, it’s set to be a busy summer when it comes to incomings at the Stadium of Light.

And sporting director Speakman offered an update on the type of players that the club will be pursuing this summer during the latest structured dialogue meeting between club officials and fans.

The notes from the meeting state that Speakman said that Sunderland will be looking for ‘industrious players, who make bold decisions and have creativity.’

Sunderland return to pre-season training in a few weeks and face Spennymoor Town on July 3, their first confirmed pre-season game of the summer.

The Black Cats are targeting promotion back to the Championship at the fourth attempt when the 2021-22 campaign gets underway in August.

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