The Sunday People claims that the 25-year-old wanted a payoff from the Black Cats before agreeing to switch to Stoke City on transfer deadline day.
It has been reported that Sunderland and Stoke had struck a £5m deal, but Cattermole refused to agree to the move after Gus Poyet''s side declined to give him a payoff.
Cattermole was left out of the Black Cats'' 3-0 away win against Newcastle.
