Dick Advocaat tells Sunderland players they are all for sale

After saying every senior Sunderland player is available for sale Dick Advocaat declined invitations to confirm he intends to see out his one-year contract.

“I don’t want to discuss that now,” he said. “It’s not an issue, we’re concentrating on the Swansea game.” Even so, it is clear he is not exactly thrilled with a side tthat have conceded seven goals in two games. “Every player is for sale,” said a man already braced for a relegation battle. “If the player wants to go then he can go.”

He hopes any departures would fund new arrivals. ”I have definitely said to our owner [Ellis Short] we needed five or six new players,” he said. “He says we have four or five [already]. But I said we need quality players. You always get what you pay for. But I have to be fair to the owner; he never mentioned a figure to me.

“We can compete to stay in the league, but no more. Financially, at the moment we can’t compete with other clubs.” Asked if Sunderland faced a relegation fight, he said: “Yes, the problem is that all the other teams are spending fortunes, and we cannot.”

Sunderland’s manager also made it plain Jermain Defoe will not be offered a central attacking role: “Jermain Defoe will play on the left or the right side – or on the bench. Nobody can tell me where he has to play. I decide which player plays where, not players.”