Sunderland continue to be linked with Udinese winger Simone Pepe.

The Journal says Sunderland target - Italian winger Pepe - insists that despite speculation linking him with a move away from Udinese, he is currently focused entirely on making Marcello Lippi's final World Cup squad.

He said: "I receive many phone calls during the day, mainly from my father. But a call about the market has not yet arrived, and I know nothing. I am here training, giving it my all. I hope to go to South Africa."