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ESPNsoccernet: Transfers | |
Sunderland have waded into the transfer market by tabling formal bids for Lee Cattermole and Fraizer Campbell.
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But while the Campbell deal may be completed over the weekend, Wigan have rejected their approach for Cattermole.
They have also spoken to Portsmouth about the possibility of signing £11million striker Peter Crouch, and are monitoring the situation regarding Darren Bent at Spurs.
Sunderland's bid was undisclosed, although some reports have suggested it may have been as much as £7million.
However, Martinez has no intention of allowing Cattermole to leave and dismissed Sunderland's bid "within the hour''.
"Lee is not for sale. End of story,'' he said. "He is a fantastic player, a leader on and off the field, and is central to our plans going forwards. We are not interested in selling him, which was why this offer was rejected immediately.
"It is not usually our style to discuss incoming or outgoing transfers until they are completed but we have made an exception in this case because I feel so strongly about keeping Lee, along with all my best players. He is one of many talented players. Let's forget about this now and move on.''
News of the Wearsiders' bid came hours after Wigan confirmed they had agreed a fee with Swansea for Jason Scotland and been given permission for new manager Roberto Martinez to speak to the player.
Bruce is keen to land a combative midfielder and knows all about the Stockton-born enforcer who performed so well for England at the European Under-21s Championships this summer.
Meanwhile, Bruce will hope for a positive response from Pompey as the race to land Crouch gathers pace.
AC Milan, Tottenham, Fulham and Blackburn have also been heavily linked with the 6ft 7in frontman, whose future has been the subject of intense speculation amid the ongoing uncertainty off the field at his current club.
All five suitors will be encouraged by comments from the 28-year-old's agent, Jonathan Barnett, who hinted he could be ready to call it a day at Fratton Park.
Barnett told the Portsmouth News: "He's a Portsmouth player, he likes the club and thinks a lot of [executive chairman] Peter Storrie and Paul Hart. He is happy, but if there are circumstances where he has to move, that is football, I'm afraid.
"He's still on holiday at the moment and has been given a few more days off by the club because he has been playing for England. If Portsmouth were to receive an offer from somebody, then we would have to listen to it.''
Bruce has made the acquisition of at least one striker a priority after the club decided not to take up an option on last season's loan signing Djibril Cisse.
Michael Chopra has left the club for Cardiff and Daryl Murphy has also been linked with Ipswich, leaving just Kenwyne Jones, David Healy and youngster Martyn Waghorn on the books with Roy O'Donovan and Anthony Stokes unlikely to figure highly in the reckoning.