An update has emerged on Alex Pritchard, regarding who he rejected before deciding to sign for Sunderland... 

What's the talk?

According to Football League World, Alex Pritchard decided to reject an offer from German outfit VFL Bochum in order to seal a move to Sunderland. The out-of-contract playmaker has turned down the chance to play in the Bundesliga to remain in England and join the Black Cats.

The report claims that Pritchard is only a few steps away from officially completing his transfer to the Stadium of Light, following his release from Huddersfield at the start of the month.

Fans will love it

Sunderland fans will be buzzing with this news as it shows a desire from the player to make the switch. He had the opportunity to go and play top-flight football in Germany, potentially playing against the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus and Erling Haaland - among others. Instead, the attacker is now poised to play in the third tier in England with Lee Johnson's side, where he will not be alongside such esteemed company - with all due respect to the players in League One.

This is a key boost for the club as it shows that they are still an attractive prospect for players looking for a new team. Despite being in League One, Sunderland remains a place where players would like to play and they could now benefit from that with Pritchard's arrival as he could be an exceptional addition to the team.

Although the ex-Spurs man struggled during his time at Huddersfield, he previously thrived in the Championship with Norwich and Brentford, suggesting that he has the quality to be a top player at a higher standard than League One. Former Canaries coach Alan Irvine once hailed the midfielder as “influential” and claimed that he is a very talented footballer, during his spell at Carrow Road.

He told Norwich's official website:

"I think he’s got a big part to play.

"He’s a very talented player, there’s no question about that. I’ve started him in every game since I took over.

"I’ve been really impressed with how he’s done. He’s part of the team but he’s a part that has fitted in extremely well.

"He’s been influential in a number of the games and he needs to keep that form up and go forward again next year."

The £30k-per-week maestro managed 12 goals and seven assists in the Championship whilst on loan to Brentford earlier in his career. He then joined Norwich on a permanent deal from Tottenham and racked up six goals and seven assists in 19 starts in his first season, averaging an excellent WhoScored rating of 7.00.

Therefore, he could thrive in the third tier with Sunderland and be a terrific player for Johnson next season. This is why his decision to reject Bochum to play in red and white is a key boost for the club and one fans will love, as they could now watch him dominate League One with his creative talents, if he can rediscover his Brentford and Norwich form.

AND in other news, Forget Sanderson: Speakman must land £450k-rated powerhouse, Johnson needs him at SAFC...