Sunderland manager Simon Grayson has revealed that the attitudes of Lamine Kone and Whabi Khazri has been positive whilst addressing the speculation surrounding their futures.
The duo have been linked with moves away from the Stadium of Light following the Black Cats relegation from the Premier League last season.
The club have however not received a formal offer for either player and Grayson has indicated that his club will not be in a hurry to sell unless they receive a good offer.
Kone’s performances during the Black Cats 1-1 Championship opening day draw against Derby County drew praise and he has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs this summer.
Grayson said of the duo, “If anybody who has wanted to leave the club wasn’t doing the work the other lads were doing, then I would come down on them like a ton of bricks and would make sure that they did the stuff because it’s part of the discipline you have to have as a manager.
“And they have to be respectful that if they are wanting to leave the club, they have to do the right things because ultimately if the club wanted, we could hold people to their contracts.
“It’s not the right thing to do, I suppose, but I have known it happen that players have rotted in the reserves for a couple of years.
“Every player up and down the country has got a value on their head. We have got a value for all our players and if nobody reaches that value, then they will stay with us.”
