Sunderland are reportedly in discussion with Tottenham Hotspur over a potential loan move for Republic of Ireland international Tory Parrott. Alex Neil's squad are yet to add to their front line, with Ross Stewart the only out and out striker at the club.
Reports claim Sunderland remain in discussion with Spurs after announcing the signing of Jack Clarke last week. The 20-year-old spent last season on loan with the Wearsiders' League One rivals, scoring ten goals in all competition as Liam Manning's side missed out on promotion to the Championship.
Parrott has since returned to Tottenham and has lay down a marker for Antonio Conte, leading the running in Spurs' gruelling pre-season preparations. Speaking to football.london, Parrott said: "It's been tough. It's been tough to be fair, but enjoyable nevertheless. It's been good to see the way [Conte] works. It's been good to be back with the lads and catching up with people. I'm quite a good runner naturally, but yeah it's been tough. It's been hard work but it's all preparation."
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The Sunderland 'target' has also reflected on last season's loan spell. He added: "In a way yes [I had to kick on]. I just wanted to give it everything. I realised the loan wasn't going too well at that stage of the season and I needed to have a big six months for the second half of the campaign to come back here full of confidence and playing well.
"I think that's what I did to be honest. I was trying to give my best every game, giving my all and it went well from that point. I think, from speaking to other players, everyone goes through a bit of their own stuff.
"I don't think you can put your finger on just one thing. It's a number of things coming together and just making sure you prepare right and when you're on the pitch doing the things that will keep you on the pitch.
"Just make yourself too hard to drop and that's what I was trying to do in every game. You could say it was a turning point but I was just more confident, I was scoring goals and it was a good time."
Parrott's immediate focus is on impressing Conte this summer, rather than a potential move away from Tottenham this summer. "I'm not too sure what's going to happen [to me]," he said. "Since pre-season started I've been focused just on this tour and focused on doing whatever I can to impress the boss and impress the coaching staff.
"They've got some great players, got a great manager and I think they should be aiming for the most they can get. The sky is the limit."
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