Sunderland decided against offering free agent Liam Burt a contract at the Stadium of Light with the Glasgow Times reporting the Black Cats felt they needed a midfielder with more experience.
It is four months since the Scotland U21 international’s Celtic dream went up in smoke.
The Scottish Premiership champions opted against renewing Burt’s contract and released him in June, only one year after snapping up the technically gifted midfielder in a controversial move from bitter rivals Rangers.
But while the transfer window has now closed for clubs all over Europe, Burt is still on the market without a club to call his own.
Sunderland had invited the Glasgow-born playmaker to Wearside but decided against offering him a deal.
Reports from north of the border claim Phil Parkinson’s Black Cats felt they needed a player proven in the senior game instead.
Burt, after all, has only made 25 league appearances and only one in the top flight of Scottish football.
Interestingly, Sunderland haven’t signed a single midfielder since turning their nose up at Burt and, according to the Northern Echo, are currently in talks with Leeds United’s Robbie Gotts – a player nine months younger than the former Celtic starlet.
The Glasgow Times adds a move to Championship outfit Barnsley has also failed to materialise for Burt.
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