Hull warned off Whitehead swoop

Whitehead joined Sunderland from Oxford in the summer of 2004

Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia is adamant that Hull target Dean Whitehead will not be leaving the club in the January transfer window.

The Tigers have made an undisclosed bid for the 27-year-old skipper but Sbragia is keen to keep the midfielder.

He said: "Dean won't be going anywhere - it's as simple as that."

Sbragia has also recalled defender Paul McShane from his loan spell with Hull, seemingly scotching the chance of a permanent deal being struck.

Tigers boss Phil Brown said of a deal for McShane: "It is an option but it would depend on Ricky Sbragia's shopping list - and at the moment it seems to be falling on deaf ears."

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Hull have also been linked with a move for former Liverpool full-back Steve Finnan, who joined Espanyol last summer.