Celtic target Josh Maja became the centre of attention when he turned down a new Sunderland contract on January 4.
The League One promotion chasers set that deadline to respond to the offer of a new contract with his first professional deal ending in June.
Jack Ross thought that he had convinced the 15-goal striker to commit himself to the club but as hopes rose within The Stadium of Light bad news was in the pipeline in the form of a surprise phone call from Sky Sports.
The local newspaper, The Chronicle reported:
The club set a deadline of today – Friday, January 4 – to conclude negotiations but indications this week were that the player was happy to sign.
However Donald took to social media today to provide fans with an update – and it didn’t appear to be good news.
The Sunderland chief tweeted: “Josh Maja update. Yesterday Josh asked to see Jack to say he will sign. Today I got a call from Sky TV saying he won’t sign.
“Josh advised his agent has said don’t sign but no courtesy to tell the club – Also we offered what the agent indicated!!! Busy January ahead.
“I would have kept Josh news in-house but once his agent informed Sky and they report it that he doesn’t want to sign we have to respond. He wants to sign it this agent that has said don’t!!! Stay behind him and don’t get up his back – we will try to change his mind.
“To answer all those who say it should be in house. Totally agree. His agent phoned sky to tell them – not the club or myself who would have said nothing. The agent has made this public – not to the benefit of the player!!! We are responding not instigating.”
Last season Maja made just six starts in The Championship for Sunderland with 11 substitute appearances yielding just one goal as the club suffered back-to-back relegations under Simon Grayson, Chris Coleman and Robbie Stockdale.
Jack Ross has put his trust in the striker who has an impressive strike rate of two goals from every three appearances in League One.
That record and the ticking down of his contract has alerted other clubs with the striker believed to be on a basic wage of less than £1,000 a week from the contract he signed as a 17-year-old when he moved north from his home in London.
Raja joined Sunderland at the same time as Moussa Dembele signed for Celtic, both men were previously at Fulham with the success of the Frenchman providing a template that Sunderland’s top scorer might be looking to emulate.
