The eye-watering figure Doncaster Rovers 'quoted' to Sunderland for John Marquis

The Black Cats targeted Marquis in the late stages of the January transfer window in 2019 as they desperately hunted for a striker to aid their promotion push.

In the latest season of the Sunderland ‘Til I Die series on Netflix, Sunderland owner Stewart Donald is shown speaking to head of recruitment Tony Coton when Rovers’ lofty asking price was revealed.

The scene shows Donald instructing Coton to lodge a £1.5m, which was flatly rejected by Rovers.

Sunderland went on to sign Will Grigg from Wigan Athletic on deadline day for an initial £3m.

It is understood that Rovers rejected a similar bid from Marquis in the late stages of the window and remained steadfast in their determination to retain the striker, who went on to finish the season with 26 goals.

With little time to secure a replacement, Rovers had no intention of allowing Marquis to leave - hence the level of asking price quoted.

Entering last summer, Rovers maintained a stance that Marquis was not for sale but had told him they would not reject any bids they deemed reasonable if he wished to move on.

Marquis told the club he hoped to secure a move to the south to be closer to the families of both he and his pregnant partner, and eventually joined Portsmouth for a fee approaching £2m.