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Championship manager responds to Sunderland's transfer interest in 'key player'

Leicester City's Abdul Fatawu emerged as a target for Sunderland this week _(Image: Adam Davy)_

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MARTI Cifuentes is hoping Sunderland target Abdul Fatawu will not be sold by Leicester in this transfer window after the Ghana winger scored a second-half stunner in his side’s 1-0 Championship victory at Charlton on Saturday.

Fatawu emerged as a target for Sunderland this week, though Leicester's valuation of the forward could price the [Black Cats](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland) out of making a move in the final week of the window.

The 21-year-old put the uncertainty surrounding his future to one side with a fine display and goal for the Foxes on Saturday,

And Leicester manager Cifuentes, who opted not to pick Bilal El Khannouss – a transfer window target for Crystal Palace - is desperate for Fatawu to stay.

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He said: “It was a fantastic goal which summarises really well what Abdul means to us.

“If I had to trust all the rumours and speculation then (head of media relations) Jonny (Lally), you have to start next weekend. There is speculation around most of our players.

“The target is that we arrive on September 1 in a good position with a team that we want to have. There are some key players that we want to keep and Abdul is one of them."

When asked specifically about Sunderland's interest in Fatawu, Regis Le Bris said this week: "There's a lot of speculation which is positive for everyone.

"Same answer. If it's possible to reinforce the squad with the right profile we'll move forward, but it's not just our question. It's a question of the player and the club, so we'll see."

Sunderland, who lost 2-0 to Burnley on Saturday, their first Premier League defeat of the season, are looking to strengthen in defence and out wide in the final week of the window, but only if they can land the "right players".

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