Sunderland keeper Jon McLaughlin has revealed to the Chronicle why he hasn't signed a new deal with the club; there isn't one on the table to sign.

The Scotland international was the Black Cats' Player of the Season last time out and is considered a key part of the squad going into the current season. He's now entered into the final year of his contract and talks have stalled.

He confirmed there had been initial discussions between his agent and the club's owners, but they've gone quiet now, leaving him uncertain about the future.

"My agent has had a conversation with the owners and the finance guys and they said they wanted to do something and they wanted to know what we wanted, but they haven't made any offers or said 'this is what we'd like to do'," said the former Burton Albion stopper.

"So for the time being there is nothing on the table and that's where we find ourselves."

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McLaughlin, who has also appeared for SPFL side Hearts and League Two Bradford, is keen to remain at the Stadium of Light but until there is movement, he's concentrating on the task in hand.

"I'd love to sign a new deal but the honest answer is that we want to sign the right deal, not just signed away our future if it's not right for us long-term.

"Whether it means they [the owners] don't see that that something they want to do, or they are taking the time to come back to us, I don't know, but at the moment we haven't had any more contact and in the meantime it's not a problem because I'm a contracted player and we get on with the job."

The Edinburgh-born keeper has one Scotland cap to his name, coming when he was a free agent after leaving Hearts in May, 018.

The Verdict

This is a bit of business the Black Cats surely need to tie up. He was one of their key players last season, a towering presence in the box and a competent shot-stopper as well.

Anyone who saw the Netflix documentary from their Championship season knows a lack of quality keepers was part of their downfall. In McLaughlin, they have a safe pair of hands.

If they don't get talks underway soon, other clubs will begin to circle. This situation is exactly why you see so many 'undisclosed' contracts these days. It prevents speculation and scaremongering.