Josh Scowen has said that the Sunderland players have not been affected by the ongoing takeover uncertainty.

The Black Cats are enduring a difficult period as talk of their long-term future continues to dominate the back pages.

It's thought that the Wearsiders are closing in on a deal that will see Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and minority shareholder Juan Sartori take control of the club on a day-to-day basis.

As part of the transaction Stewart Donald will reportedly sell the bulk of his shares and retain just 15% of his stake, making him a silent shareholder in the club.

While a deal is thought to be close the uncertainty remains as supporters wait for a final decision.

A series of mixed results on the pitch have sparked speculation that the takeover saga is having a detrimental impact on the team, but according to Scowen, that's not the case.

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Speaking about the takeover to the Sunderland Echo, Scowen said: "To be honest, its not something we talk about.

"We just want to get on the pitch and do what we're here to do.
"We try to stay out of all the background scenes - we just want to play football and enjoy it.” The Verdict While Josh Scowen says that the players aren't talking about it, I find that hard to believe. The future of the club is a massive talking point both inside and outside of the club and it'd be incredibly difficult for that not to impact the focus of the players. This needs a solution to come sooner rather than later if Sunderland are to be able to focus on pushing for promotion.