Sunderland manager Roy Keane revealed today that he has come in with a late bid to snatch Cork City striker Roy O'Donovan away from Fulham.
Speaking at a press conference in Turner's Cross, where The Black Cats are playing a sell out pre-season friendly against Cork tomorrow night, Keane said, ‘We have made an offer for O'Donovan.’
He continued: ‘We are aware that the player had planned to travel to London to speak with Fulham and undergo a medical tomorrow but nothing had been signed yet. We hope we are not too late.’
When asked if Sunderland would come to a similar arrangement as Fulham, who had agreed to loan O’Donovan back to Cork for the remainder of the season, Keane said they would also add this clause if a transfer were to go through.
However, Keane warned that it was at a very early stage and that he would be hoping to speak with the Republic of Ireland 'B' international while in Cork this evening.
There has been a lot of speculation about 21-year-old O'Donovan's future in recent months, with Hull City and Southend United having had substantial bids turned down.
But it looked as if Lawrie Sanchez had won the race for the pacey forward when Fulham were the first Premiership club in with an offer believed to be worth €450,000, which could have risen to €800,000.
But with this late bid from his fellow Corkman, one wonders if O'Donovan will be able to turn down a move to The Stadium of Light.
When contacted this afternoon the Cork City striker was not aware of any inquiry form Sunderland, but it looks like contact between Keane and O'Donovan will be made tonight before any talks take place with Fulham tomorrow.
