AMSTERDAM – The agent for Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore has quickly put to rest a UK rumor that the Premier League club are shopping his client around on transfer deadline day.
Early Friday morning, The Mail made a live blog update claiming the US star was no longer in the plans of Black Cats boss Gus Poyet, with a quick update adding that Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven were ready to snap him up. However, Altidore's agent poured ice cold water on such suggestions.
"There is no truth to it," Altidore rep Lyle Yorks told MLSsoccer.com on Friday afternoon, mere hours before the window closes in England. "Jozy is happy at Sunderland and is very happy with Gus as a manager. He is looking forward to tomorrow's derby with Newcastle."
Altidore has struggled in his first season with Sunderland, bagging just two goals to go with six assists in 29 matches across all competition this term. The club also completed the capture of Internacional forward Ignacio Scocco on Thursday, perhaps stirring the rumor makers.
Nevertheless, Poyet recently told local reporters that he intends to get Altidore scoring and the arrival of Scocco gives him a potential partner for the two-man area game that the American thrived from with previous employers AZ Alkmaar. The No. 17 shirt has started three of Sunderland's last four overall games and seven of their last 10 EPL matches.
