Before last week's mauling to Chelsea I was sulking with my house mate because he didn't sort out tickets for Sunderland's trip to Stamford Bridge.

As a London-based season ticket holder, a home game tends to mean an expensive weekend with hours of travelling so any game in the capital I consider easy trip to get to. I can't remember the last time I was in the same city as where Sunderland were playing and not been at the game and I felt guilty at not being there. Thankfully, I was spared from watching the horror show.

Hamburg defender Guy Demel claims he is wanted by Sunderland and one other English club. AC Milan are also chasing the Ivory Coast international, according to the 28-year-old.

"I know about the interest (from Sunderland),'' Demel, who is currently at the African Nations Cup in Angola, said in an interview with the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper. "I also know that AC Milan and another English club would like to sign me.

"But, I am still a Hamburg player. I have felt very content in all my years in Hamburg and continue to be part of this team.''