Paul Scharner won’t be joining Steve Bruce at Sunderland Football Club.

Bruce is said to be keen on raiding his former club Wigan Athletic for the Austrian midfielder, who is keen to quit the JJB Stadium in a transfer which is likely to cost any interest club around £4million.

However, Scharner has delivered a snub to his former boss by saying: “Sunderland are not an improvement on Wigan. Besides, I don’t get on too well with Bruce’s style of play.”

Aston Villa, Everton, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked with the 29-year-old, who also claims to be receiving attention from a number of German clubs.