Alan Shearer claims he would accept Sunderland 'WINNING the Premier League' if it meant England beating Spain in the Euro 2024 final - as the Newcastle icon makes thinly-veiled dig at the Black Cats

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Alan Shearer hilariously admitted he would accept Sunderland winning the Premier League if it meant England beat Spain to become Euro 2024 champions on Sunday.

The Geordie legend shares an intense rivalry with Sunderland after starring as a player at his boyhood club and later becoming manager at St James' Park.

Shearer is still the Premier League's record goals holder with 260 goals to his name and is recognised as one of England's and Newcastle's greatest-ever players.

However, his stock isn't held quite as high by Sunderland supporters who share an intense rivalry with Newcastle that has been peripheral in recent years with the Black Cats stuck in the Championship.

Shearer has been working as a pundit at the ongoing European Championship in Germany and couldn't avoid aiming a wry dig at Sunderland when questioned on England's chances of beating Spain in the final.

England are attempting to make history when they play Spain in Sunday's Euro 2024 final

Alan Shearer displayed his Newcastle loyalty once again by claiming he 'doesn't care about Sunderland'

Shearer admitted he would let Sunderland win the Premier League if it meant England lifting the European Championship title

The 53-year-old was asked a hypothetical question about whether he would want England to win the Euros if it meant Sunderland would also be promoted to the Premier League and go on to win the league title.

'Someone asked me if I’d take England winning but Sunderland come back up to the Premier League and win the title,' Shearer told Betfair.

'I don't care about Sunderland, I have no interest in them, I just want England to win so if that had to happen, then fair enough,' he added.

Shearer previously scored three goals and registered a single assist in 11 Premier League outings against Sunderland during his illustrious playing career.

Newcastle and their closest rivals have only met once in the past eight years - the Magpies winning last season's FA Cup clash 3-0 - with Sunderland relegated from the English top-flight in 2017.

The Geordie legend shares an intense rivalry with Sunderland after starring as a player at his boyhood club

Shearer is determined to see England go on to glory in the Euro 2024 final and has called on the Three Lions to make fresh history in the silverware showdown in Berlin.

'These guys now have got a chance to put themselves in the history books and be spoken about forever. It’s been so long, 58 years since our country last lifted a trophy. 

'Gareth has taken us close, now him and the team have to find a way somehow to get over the line. They've shown great resilience, belief and togetherness. It's had everything.

'They’ve got the opportunity to write themselves into the history books, and they deserve to win, but deserving it and actually doing it are two different things,' he added.