Luke ONien's Sunderland future may remain unclear, but it appears that one club have been priced out of a deal for the Black Cats star.
Newly-promoted Championship side Hull City have been one of the teams credited with interest in the out-of-contract defender, but reports on Humberside say Grant McCann is set to miss out.
Our sister title Hull Live report that the Tigers' wage structure is unlikely to stretch of offer O'Nien better terms than he has been offered elsewhere - including at Sunderland.
READ MORE: Kevin Phillips questions Sunderland's contract stand off with Charlie Wyke
The Black Cats are hoping to keep the 26-year-old on Wearside after he has proven to be a vital member of Lee Johnson's squad.
He spent the majority of last term filling in at the centre of the Sunderland defence after injuries to the likes of Jordan Willis, Tom Flanagan, Bailey Wright and Dion Sanderson, but can also play at right-back, in the central midfield or in a role just off the front man.
O'Nien signed from Wycombe under Jack Ross in 2018, but with his contract expired, clubs have been monitoring his situation.
Championship sides Luton Town, Millwall and Middlesbrough have all been credited with interest, while there is an offer on the table from Sunderland.
Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman was hopeful of keeping all four out of contract players who had been offered new deals, although Charlie Wyke appears to be closing in on a move to Celtic.
Aiden McGeady is reported close to be signing new terms with Sunderland, while O'Nien and Denver Hume are yet to commit to their futures.
"We've been in discussions with those guys and their representatives and it is always going to be a difficult period because they are players who have done well for us, hence we want to re-engage them," Speakman said last month.
"But then because they have done well for Sunderland, there are other people who have seen that and would also be interested in them.
"It's going to be a piece of work where we want to reduce the timeline as quickly as possible, and that helps us with our platform in terms of where we are going and who we might be looking at in the future.
"We feel that they can all contribute to the Sunderland of the future, and therefore hopefully we will be able to get them over the line."
O'Nien has played 139 times for the Sunderland in his three seasons with the club.
