SAFC enquiry for defender rebuffed

Mick McCarthy is today reported to have been thwarted in his attempts to sign a new defender.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Chris Turner - goalkeeper for Sunderland for a spell in the mid-1980s - spoke today of how a "top first divison club" had made enquiries about the availability of Owls' defender Graeme Lee - and the Northern Echo reports that it understands the club in question was Sunderland.

Middlesbrough-born Lee, 25, moved from Hartlepool to Wednesday on a free transfer in June 2003 and has made 31 appearences for the Owls this season, scoring four goals in the process. He was also named in last season's Division Three PFA team of the season.

But Turner doesn't want to let Lee move. He said "I believe he's been our most consistent player this season. If we start letting go what I believe to be our future, then it would be time to close the shop."

Lee is said to be a centre-half who brings the ball out of defence well and has good passing abilities, with his height giving him an advantage in both his own box and his opponents' penalty area.