PETERBOROUGH UNITED chairman Darragh MacAnthony has ruled out Marcus Maddison joining Sunderland this summer, and claimed a key member of the Black Cats’ recruitment team does not rate the midfielder.

The Black Cats inquired about the Durham-born winger last summer, but were unable to agree a deal, and have been heavily linked with another move for the 25-year-old in the last few weeks.

Maddison, a boyhood Sunderland fan, has a buyout clause in his current contract at London Road, and is one of the most highly-regarded players in League One after scoring ten league goals last season.

Sunderland boss Jack Ross is determined to sign another winger this summer, with Lewis Morgan having returned to Celtic at the end of his loan spell.

With Sunderland’s players due to return for the start of pre-season training this Thursday, the club are expected to step up their recruitment drive once ongoing takeover discussions with businessman Mark Campbell are resolved.

However, MacAnthony claims Maddison will not be moving to the Stadium of Light, even though he concedes it could be difficult to keep hold of the North-Easterner this summer.

Speaking to Peterborough fans in a question-and-answer session on Twitter, MacAnthony was asked whether he could 100 per cent guarantee that Maddison would still be part of his club’s squad next season.

He said: “Nope, as he has a release fee, so I’m helpless until he signs (a) new deal. But I can guarantee under their (Sunderland) current ownership he won’t be going there as they don’t rate him like we do.”

Pressed again on the subject later, he added: “Sunderland fans need to forget it. Current director of football RH doesn’t rate Marcus at all – trust me on that.”

RH would appear to refer to Richard Hill, Sunderland’s director of football operations, although if Campbell’s takeover is successful, former Celtic scout John Park is expected to be appointed as a new director of football.

MacAnthony also stated that he was not interested in signing anyone from Sunderland this summer, and denied that Peterborough were keen on Sunderland target Freddie Ladapo, who is currently with Plymouth.