A report from the Express this week has claimed that Tottenham are ready to pounce on want-away striker Josh Maja.
The 20-year-old forward was reportedly offered a new deal at his current club Sunderland, but chose to turn it down.
His current contract runs out in the summer, meaning that Sunderland would either have to sell him for some money this month, or let him go for nothing at the end of the season.
Maja was not in the squad on Saturday for Sunderland’s draw against Luton Town, with illness cited as the official reason for his absence.
However, the timing seems a little coincidental with a host of Premier League clubs circling.
Wolves, Huddersfield, and Manchester City are all said to be keeping tabs on the young striker, with over two weeks left of the January transfer window.
However, the Sunderland manager, Jack Ross, insists Maja’s absence was in fact down to illness.
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He said (Express): “I know that there’ll be 101 different theories as to why he wasn’t involved.
“The good thing is that I tell the truth – when I say he is ill, that is the case.
“I first got word last night at 10pm that he was unwell, he deteriorated overnight, didn’t feel any better this morning, and the doctor went to see him mid-morning and he had a stomach bug.
“One, Josh isn’t that type of lad [to say he was ill when that was not the case], and two, there’s absolutely nothing happening with any club in terms of him leaving as things stand.
“It is as straightforward as that.”
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