Sunderland are reportedly close to signing George Dobson and Darrell Clarke has admitted that he wants to leave.
Walsall manager Darrell Clarke has admitted that captain George Dobson wants to leave the Bescott Stadium with Sunderland interested in taking him to the Stadium of Light this summer, according to the Express and Star.
The Saddlers were relegated from League One in May and, to make matters worse, they now look set to lose their influential skipper.
Dobson was one of their few bright sparks in a dreadful campaign with his superb performances in the centre of the park attracting the attention of a Sunderland side who need a new tenacious, box-to-box midfielder after the departure of Lee Cattermole.
21-year-old Dobson might not have the same levels of experience but the raw potential, and undoubted technical ability, is clear for all to see.
And Clarke has now admitted that the former Arsenal and West Ham youngster has made his desire to move on very clear – though initial offers for Dobson and fellow Walsall ace Morgan Ferrier have so far fallen short of the club’s valuation.
“George Dobson and Morgan Ferrier – we have had bids from clubs that haven’t been acceptable,” Clarke said. “They have shown a desire to leave, which is football.
“What I will say is they won’t be going anywhere until they meet the figure we have set, simple as that.
“They won’t be disrespecting the club. And to be fair they have been knuckling down. They won’t mess me about that’s for sure because if they do I’ll chop them off at the knees. But they know that.”
It was never Dobson’s style to kick up a fuss. With just three seasons of senior football under his belt, the London-born youngster is already proving that he’s a good egg on and off the pitch.
The Northern Echo claimed on Tuesday that a move to Sunderland was close – but there’s still some work to do yet.
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