• Premier League

Sunderland Altidore bid rejected

ESPN staff
July 2, 2013
Jozy Altidore believes he has come a long way since his first Premier League stint © Getty Images
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Sunderland have seen a bid for United States striker Jozy Altidore rejected by AZ Alkmaar.

Originally emanating from RTV Noord Holland, a club official revealed: "The first offer was not sufficient. We have let them know. Now it's wait and see."

Altidore scored 23 goals last season, generating interest from a number of clubs in England, Germany and Italy, including Lazio.

That interest grew when the 23-year-old scored what proved to be the winner in the KNVB Cup final against PSV Eindhoven, in which AZ triumphed 2-1.

On Tuesday, a source close to the Wearsiders had earlier confirmed to ESPN that the club were in advanced discussions with the former Villarreal striker.

That follows confirmation from Altidore that he would entertain a return to the Premier League following a loan spell with Hull City in 2009-10 that saw him score just once in 28 games.

"It is a fantastic league - anyone will tell you that," he told the NASN radio network. "If you look at everything, the Premier League is probably the biggest league in the world. Everybody knows that, and it would be a pleasure to play in a league like that again.

"I think I was 19 or just turned 20 [when he last played in the Premier League] and I had not played in Europe before that. I have come a long way since then.

"I am almost a different player, and I have learned a lot. So I don't think there is any resemblance to that time if I went back to the league any time soon."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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