2:59pm Friday 10th July 2009
By Paul Fraser
SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce has had a written offer for former Middlesbrough midfielder Lee Cattermole rejected.
Wigan's Cattermole has been on Bruce's radar ever since he decided to take over at the Stadium of Light last month.
But with Cattermole only recently free from England Under-21s duty, Bruce had been forced to bide his time before launching an official offer.
Sunderland are understood to have offered in the region of £6m for him, although Wigan are hoping to receive more.
And after the sales of Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia - for a combined £30m - in recent months, there is no need for Latics chairman Dave Whelan to cave in.
Sunderland, though, are determined to land their man and hope to have their hand boosted in the transfer market by the sales of Dean Whitehead and Daryl Murphy to Ipswich.
The offer for Cattermole follows news of Sunderland's bid to land Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell.
Campbell, an Under-21 team-mate of Cattermole, is expected on Wearside for talks over the weekend with a view to completing a £5.5m switch next week.
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