Bruce: Offer too much to turn down

08 September 2010 11:30
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has revealed that Leicester's `staggering` offer for Martyn Waghorn convinced him to sell his young prospect. Bruce had repeatedly stated the 20-year-old striker, who impressed during a season-long loan spell at the Walkers Stadium last season, was not for sale and would be one of his first-team squad strikers this campaign. However, he says Leicester's offer of £2million, rising to £3million depending on clauses, persuaded him to sell Waghorn and use the money to bring in Asamoah Gyan from Rennes for a club record fee of £13million. "You never want to lose one of your young players," Bruce told the Leicester Mercury. "I think he's got a big future in the game but he's not quite ready for the Premier League at the moment. "In a year's time, maybe two, he could be, so I wish him well. He's a great kid, but they offered a staggering amount of money so we managed to put that in the kitty."

Source: PA