Sunderland are reported favourites in the race to sign Blackburn Rovers midfielder Steven N’Zonzi.
The 23-year-old looks set to quit Ewood Park this summer following Rovers demotion to the Championship and has been left out of their pre-season camp in Austria.
The Frenchman is now being tracked by a host of Premier League clubs with Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Stoke City and West Ham all linked, but Sky Sports reports The Black Cats head the queue.