Sunderland are keen on a move for Leeds United right-back Lewie Coyle.
That is according to the Sun on Sunday, who claim the Black Cats are keen on a permanent move for the 24-year-old this month with his current deal at Elland Road set to expire this summer.
Coyle, who is the younger brother of professional boxer Tommy Coyle, has spent the last two-and-a-half seasons on loan at Fleetwood and started against Sunderland on New Year's Day.
He is set to return to Leeds today following the conclusion of his latest loan spell at Highbury Stadium and the report claims Marcelo Bielsa is ready to cash in on the academy graduate.
The report also claims Phil Parkinson wants to sign a specialist right-back which could allow Luke O'Nien to resume his preferred role in midfield.
Following the departure of Laurens De Bock this week, it would also bolster Sunderland's ranks in the full-back area - despite him not being a direct replacement for the Belgian left-back.
Sunderland’s priority this month is strengthening their squad in the transfer market after a five-match unbeaten run has pushed them back into the promotion picture.
Parkinson said yesterday that a meeting is planned with chairman Stewart Donald and the club’s recruitment team next week to push those plans forward.
“We’re going to have a meeting on Monday with the chairman and the recruitment team so we can get together and go through everything," he said.
“We have been liaising over the last couple of days but with everyone having games over the weekend things tend to get put on hold.”
