Thornton targeted by trio of clubs

Sunderland's Irish misfit Sean Thornton is a target for Coca-Cola Championship duo Leeds and Crystal Palace as well as Primera Liga side Malaga.

The 22-year-old youth international midfielder has been told he has no future at the Stadium of Light and both clubs have made tentative approaches, as have Spanish side Malaga.

“There is interest from Leeds and Palace but there has been nothing concrete as yet,” Thornton’s agent Lee Payne told www.skysports.com.

“They would be interested in signing Sean but they would have to agree something with Sunderland first.

“I expect things to get going again in the next few weeks [but] Malaga are a definite.”

Payne revealed Thornton would prefer to stay in England and had asked Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy to let him stay on with the Black Cats without success.

“He went to see Mick and asked if he could have another chance to prove himself but was told there was no point in coming back as he would be training with the kids,” said Payne.

“He has not really got any other options left there. Now he wants to prove Mick wrong.”