Sunderland are reportedly looking to bolster their attacking options ahead of next season, with Stewart Downing emerging as their main target.
Dick Advocaat has solidified his defensive line by making Sebastian Coates' loan deal permanent and also bringing in Celtic’s Adam Matthews.
Sunderland have also been linked with Zenit St. Petersburg’s Nicolas Lombaerts, however director of football Lee Congerton has set aside this week to focus on attacking with a winger top of his list.
It was reported this weekend that the Black Cats were interested in bringing Queens Park Rangers’ Junior Hoilett to the Stadium of Light with an apparent £2.5 million bid made for the Canadian, who looks set to Loftus Road after Rangers were relegated last season.
However, those rumours were debunked on Monday with the Sunderland Echo stating that the club are not interested in bringing Hoilett to Wearside.
Downing, on the other hand, is the number one target for the club with talks ongoing with the Hammers over the former Middlesbrough man, Sunderland having already had a reported £6 million bid rejected earlier in the summer.
The 31-year-old is reportedly keen on a return to the North East with both Newcastle United and his former club Middlesbrough both very interested.
Despite been on £70,000 a week at Upton Park, Boro are apparently willing to make the England international their best-paid player with a four-year deal at the Riverside.
If the capture of Downing does ultimately end up failing for Sunderland, there are still other options that Congerton has in contention with Dynamo Kiev forward Jeremain Lens also a big target.
Another player that they are reportedly looking at is Everton’s Aidan McGeady, however it does seem the Irishman is further down their list of priorities with other targets ahead of him.
One target that Advocaat has reportedly missed out on is Georgino Wijnaldum with the Dutch international preferring a move to bitter rivals Newcastle.