Boss Kieran McKenna says Jay Matete, who joined Sunderland from Fleetwood on deadline day having been linked with the Blues, was a player Town had spoken about but that no move was made for the midfielder.

Sky Sports News reported last Friday that Town had made a £650,000 bid for the 20-year-old and rumours regarding Blues interest continued to circulate on Monday, the final day of the transfer window.

McKenna says Matete was someone that had been talked about at Town but nothing beyond that.

“He’s a player that we are aware of and that we have spoken about,” he said. “I know that he played against Ipswich earlier in the season as well, so he is a player that we were aware of.

“The same situation with all players. There are funds and backing there from the club to make moves if we think that is the right thing for the club going forward.

“At this time, we thought we had good cover and good options in those positions, and after Tyreeq [Bakinson] came in on loan [from Bristol City], it wasn’t a position that we felt like we needed another body in. We’re happy with what we have in those positions.

“Obviously, players move between clubs and we’re obviously a big club in this division and in the country, and we get linked with a lot of players.

“Our name is probably involved with any player that moves at this sort of level and obviously our name was involved with that player as well, but there was no movement on that one from us in January.”

Londoner Matete signed a four-year deal with the Black Cats, a deal having been agreed with the Cod Army late on Monday.

Photo: Matchday Images

FrimleyBlue added 16:15 - Feb 3 We should have cancelled the Bakinson deal in that case
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PositivelyPortman added 16:17 - Feb 3 Anyone else noticed that McK has a really annoying habit of using the word ‘obviously' all the fricking time? Apart from that, I've obviously no complaints about him so far obviously.
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Ham_and_Eggs added 16:29 - Feb 3 Hope we don't end up with egg on our face for not going for this young talented schemer
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Bazza8564 added 16:53 - Feb 3 We would have had to play this lad ahead of quite a few existing players to make this work. I rate him, but to do a deal like that on deadline day you need to be losing 2 in the same position and as the Macarena says, we are already heavy in CMF. Feels like one where we think we should be signing everybody that moves......
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terryf added 17:44 - Feb 3 I think that we missed a trick on this one. Matete looked very good for Fleetwood down here and imo looked a better prospect than Bakinson. The latter will hopefully improve his game but in two matches looked flaky off the ball both in the tackle and closing down players. Maybe a couple of his ex Managers, Pearson and Jones saw the same issue, siting that Bakinson wanted to play his own game. At least he's only on loan but in the interim that may cost us points with Morsy still suspended and Evans struggling with a groin injury. OK El Mizoumi shows promise but he's got a way to go before he's the finished article.

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jas0999 added 17:50 - Feb 3 Disappointing that we opted for a short term loan, rather than a permanent addition of a very talented player. Bakinson didn't do great at the weekend and doesn't exactly come recommended.
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Jonaldo added 04:49 - Feb 4 I can see this is not a popular opinion, but I think Bakinson will do well for us. El Mizouni, Chaplin, Celina and Bonne all had a bad game against Wednesday. I certainly did not see that we had a problem with Wednesday driving through the middle of our midfield. Reality is that Wednesday got their tactics right. They sucked us in and broke quickly by knocking balls into the empty spaces behind our wing backs. Well played Wednesday and Darren Moore. I actually suspect Backinsons pass accuracy, distance ran and tackles is quite favourable.

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Beattiesballbag added 10:49 - Feb 4 Matete was a stand out player against us, Equal to Morsy at the least, One good signing in January is ofton all that is needed to get a team over the line,........wouldn't be supprised to not be playing Sunderland next season.
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