Sunderland AFC news RECAP: Norwich chief discusses recruitment plans amid Bali Mumba interest
Welcome to another week and our live Sunderland AFC blog, we’ll have the latest news, analysis and opinion throughout the day.
Clubs in the EFL could finally discover when the 2020-21 season will get underway with a vote set to take place on a couple of options, one at the end of August and another September 12.
It is understood the majority of clubs favour the September date. We’ll have the latest news on our live blog.
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Sunderland AFC transfer and takeover news RECAP: Updates from the Stadium of Light
Hello and welcome to our live Sunderland AFC blog - we’ll have the latest news and analysis throughout the day.
Sunderland’s League One promotion rivals Ipswich Town are gearing up for a return to training.
No date has yet been set for when the 2020-21 campaign will kick-off with clubs set to hold further talks this week, with either August 29 or September 12 looking likely.
The Sunderland squad is currently on furlough leave until the end of August but can be recalled at short notice.
Their rivals Ipswich, meanwhile, are planning for a return to the training field towards the end of this month, with a phased return subject to strict controls and guidelines.
Sunderland and their League One rivals could finally be told this week when the 2020-21 season will start.
The EFL is due to meet on Monday with a couple of options being considered ahead of next season in terms of when the campaign starts and ends.
They are August 29 to May 8 or September 12 to May 22. It is expected the majority of clubs favour the later date.
Clubs have been asked for their views and a vote is expected to take place with a final decision due.
Phil Parkinson has long called for much-needed clarity over the start of next season. The first team squad is currently on furlough leave but can be recalled at short notice.
Benji KimpiokaRight now I'm waiting a bit, talking to my agent and family to see how we should do in the window that is coming. Sunderland is a club that I love and I like everyone there, all the coaches, players and staff in the club. We'll see. I want to stay there, but everything is in God's hands.
Sammy Yu insists he remains interested in striking a deal to buy Sunderland AFC from Stewart Donald.
But club sources have told the Echo that he is not currently being viewed as a genuine potential new owner for the club.
Yu has previously looked to hold takeover talks with Sunderland on a number of occasions, and held negotiations with Ellis Short prior to Donald taking control of the club in 2018.
But his recent attempts have been failed to progress beyond initial discussions, with Donald instead pursuing talks with other interested parties.
There are serious doubts over whether Yu would be able to pass the EFL’s Owners and Directors Test were he to strike a deal with Sunderland, given he occupied the role of vice-chairman and football consultant during Carson Yeung’s reign at Birmingham City – which was dominated by a high-profile money laundering case involving Yeung.
But that hasn’t stopped the Hong Kong-based businessman trying to hold talks with Donald, the most recent of which came prior to the suspension of the League One season.
Norwich’s sporting director has discussed their recruitment policy - as they continue to pursue a move for Bali Mumba
Stuart WebberWe can’t afford to buy the players that we need to be good enough to compete every weekend in the Premier League, so we’ve got to try and create them. Whether that’s recruiting young and developing them or whether that’s developing them and growing them within our own academy. That’s what we have to do to be competitive at that level, we have to try and grow our own players who are capable of playing in the Premier League. That’s extremely difficult, it takes a long time and it might not ever work but at the end of the day, we can only work with the tools that we’ve got