AMSTERDAM – AZ Alkmaar technical director Earnie Stewart confirmed reports that Sunderland tabled a transfer offer for top scorer Jozy Altidore on Tuesday, but told MLSsoccer.com that subsequent articles claiming the bid had already been rejected are incorrect.
The former USMNT ace reports that the Black Cats, who finished a disappointing 17th in the English Premier League last season, are the only suitor with a formal offer for Altidore being considered at this time. As for the alleged reply, Stewart says he hasn't given one.
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"I have not spoken to them yet," Stewart told MLSsoccer.com by text message late on Tuesday.
Following a campaign that saw him bag 31 goals and a place on the Eredivisie Team of the Season, Altidore is also drawing interest from another EPL club, Lazio, a second Serie A outfit and the Bundesliga. Earlier this summer, the 23-year-old rejected four offers from Russia and Ukraine, including one from Dinamo Kiev.
