sunderland lead the chase for lawrence?

[mtfc]

Sunderland have emerged as favourites to sign Mansfield Town's Liam Lawrence.

Attacking midfielder Lawrence can play either through the middle or out on the left and scored 22 goals for the Stags last season.

And the Wearsiders are leading a pack of First Division clubs, including Cardiff City and Rotherham United, who are chasing his signature.

The Stags will be entitled to a compensation payment when Lawrence does leave but Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy is keen to recruit a new winger as quickly as possible.

Matt Piper revealed yesterday he'll miss the start of the season after undergoing a fourth operation on a long-term knee injury. . .

While John Oster's future remains uncertain after he rejected a contract offer from the Black Cats.

And Sunderland have been priced out of a bid for Morten Gamst Pedersen after Tromso rejected a Blackburn Rovers bid of £1.5 million for him - and slapped a £2.5 million valuation on the Norwegian international.

But McCarthy is confident of landing Lawrence and will have been encouraged by the 22-year-old's admission that he's keen to quit Field Mill when his current Mansfield contract expires at the end of this month.

"There were teams in touch with my agent a few weeks ago and a couple more have been on the phone this week," said Lawrence, who was watched by Sunderland scouts at Monday's Third Division play-off final when Mansfield lost to Huddersfield Town.

"It's a case now of weighing up all the options - I'm going to go away and have a holiday because it has been a long season, but I think that I have played my last game for Mansfield.

"I have had three good years playing first-team football at Mansfield, been playing well, and I want to look to explore new avenues, so we will just have to wait to see what happens.

"I want to set myself new challenges and prove myself - I want to see if I can perform at a higher level."

[Crewie]

We've, Crewe obviously, offered a contract a out of contract player who we'd still be required to pay for because of his age. It seems 90% certain to be Liam Lawrence and we're awaiting an answer from his agent by the end of the week because it's the best contract we can offer (So he'd be top earner) so we won't budge on it.

Dario doesn't seem that confident of getting a deal struck but he must know there is some chance or he wouldn't waste his time - he seems to be moving so quick to sort out our squad this year.

Maybe Andy White is being used as bait?

[mtfc]

if you get his best mate at crewe jamie clarke (who is a awful player) its getting like which division 1 side is not interested in signing liam sunderland would be a good option for him in my opinion
anyway dariogradi has been chasing white for a good ear so i doubt he is using andy as bait

[Manic Loop]

yeah liam and jamie are always in cinema together, often with mckenzie and day

[mtfc]

talking about jamie clarke he is apparantly signing for rochdale

[Crewie]

Liam Lawrence has rejected us, Dario still hoping his new clubs deal will fall through though. Signing for Sunderland before he goes on holiday with Andy White according to our official site.

[mtfc]

sunderland are definate hot favourates one because i suspect he will be on good money and the north east has excellent nightlife and with lawrence being a bit of a piss artist