Whitehead: Transfer rumours

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Dean Whitehead's agent has scotched rumours that Stoke are set to bid £3million for the Sunderland skipper.

Agent Phil Sproson said Stoke boss Tony Pulis is a known admirer of the midfielder, but the club has not been in touch about a possible transfer.

But he did admit other interest over the last couple of years, although Whitehead - who moved to Sunderland from Oxford in 2004 - has only recently signed a new contract with the Black Cats.

Sproson told The Sentinel: "He is under contract with Sunderland and we only did that last year.

Admirer

"I know Tony Pulis (Stoke City manager) has been an admirer of his for a while, but that is only to say he is Tony's sort of player.

"Maybe people have picked it up from there.

"He has had one or two people interested in him during the last couple of years."

Meanwhile, Whitehead has lost the responsibility of taking the Black Cats' penalties to striker Kenwyne Jones.

The 26-year-old, who missed a crucial penalty at Ewood Park against Blackburn in January, said the team had decided to pass the job onto Jones.

Discussion

He told the News Post Leader: "We had a bit of a discussion among the lads as to who should be the club's long-term penalty taker and he fancied it.

"I've taken them previously and it's a big responsibility - I've scored a few and I've missed a few.

"I would have been happy to continue taking them if no one else was prepared to, but as I say, we had a talk about it.

"Dwight Yorke has a great record on penalties but Kenwyne was keen and Dwight was happy to let him have a go."