Sunderland boss Roy Keane has revealed Johann Vogel was offered to the club and he has rejected the opportunity to sign the Real Betis midfielder.

"He was a player who was brought to our attention, but if I showed you a list of players who were brought to our attention in any given week you'd be surprised how long the list would be," Keane told the Sunderland Echo.

"We are still looking at strengthening the side, but stories of players turning us down left, right and centre simply aren't the case."

Keane has been linked with a string of players during the January transfer window, but is baffled by the speculation which has included suggestions of a bid to sign Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell on loan.

He added: "We were interested in Matt Taylor, but some of the other stuff that goes round, I've got no idea where it comes from.

"This whole Steve Sidwell stuff - I've no idea where that came from, but there was nothing in it and it annoys me when stories circulate that aren't the case, because they are misleading."