Sorensen transfer stalls on cash query

Aston Villa have issued a short statement as an update on the ongoing transfer talks that may see Thomas Sorensen become a Villa player:

"The club can confirm that it has had discussions with Thomas Sorensen's agent about him moving to Aston Villa.

However, a deal cannot be concluded as the 'keeper is still in discussions with Sunderland about monies due to him from that club. "

Sorensen and his agent Paul Stretford have been in talks with the West Midlands for almost a week.

Tommy recently told Danish football magazine 'Onside', "I would like to play for Villa. They are one of the big clubs in the Premier League, but the club have not fulfilled their potential in the last few years. They have a very talented squad and a good manager in David O'Leary.

"I know Sunderland and Aston Villa are negotiating the fee for me. My agent Paul Stretford will also have a meeting with Sunderland, so something should finally happen."

And Tommy's former Sunderland team-mate Gavin McCann who signed for Villa boss O'Leary last week, made a confident debut for his new club in their 4-0 defeat of Swedish side Umea. McCann, who went to Villa for £2.25m, scored Villa's fourth goal in first half stoppage time, and created several opportunities in the second half becore being substituted after an hour.

Online commentary for tonight's friendly at Hearts

Safc.com will be broadcasting live commentary on tonight's game between Hearts and Sunderland at Tynecastle.

For the match build-up and and all the action, join Metro FM's Simon Crabtree and Gary Rowell, from approximately 7.15pm.

There will be match updates and reaction on safc.com as normal.

Flo - no problem playing in reserves

The topsy-turvy "is he or isn't he" transfer saga of Sunderland's record signing Tore Andre Flo took another turn today, with his agent declaring that Flo wants to see out the remaining two years on his contract here.

Back in mid-June, Gunnar Martin Kjenner said his client was staying put in the north east despite being watched by four foreign teams and being told that to keep his international place he needed regular first team football in one of the top European leagues.

Athletico Madrid confirmed that although Sunderland had sent them a presentation about Flo in attempts to offload him, but they wouldn't be signing him.

Then early in July, there was interest from two Turkish clubs; Flo apparently didn't want to move to that particular country but Kjennar said his client was willing to listen to offers, and "Spain is the country that he would most like to move to".

No interest from Spain, but Italian clubs Siena and Brescia were interested in taking him on.

But the latest statement from Flo's agent pours cold water on any hopes that the Norwegian could be offloaded from Sunderland's crippling wages bill, despite being left to play in the reserves rather than accompany the first team on the pre-season tour of Scotland, and having his shirt number changed from 9 to 29. "Tore Andre has no plans to leave the club", said Kjennar. "He has two years left on his contract and relates himself to that. I have talked with him and he had no problems playing for the reserves."

Flo, the club's record signing at a reported £6.75m last summer, scored his first goal in nearly seven months last Wednesday in the reserves' game against Hartlepool.