And they will also be interested in bidding for the Blues captain Richard Dunne.

City were in a Champions League spot for pretty much the first third of the season, demonstrating the potential in their squad, but they fell away badly towards the season's end.

And Asian owner Thaksin Shinawatra has not only prepared the way for the sacking of Sven-Goran Eriksson, but also hinted that every single member of the squad could be up for sale.

That has alerted Sunderland, with boss Roy Keane having freely admitted earlier in the season that Stephen Ireland would be a player he would be interested in signing.

Ireland's idol, when he was growing up in Cork, was Keane.

The player has been touted around the £8m bracket, but it remains to be seen what happens at City this summer.

Dunne seems certain to leave, after falling out with City over their treatment of Eriksson.

He is top of Newcastle United's shopping list this summer with Kevin Keegan hopeful of persuading a player he formerly managed, to join the Geordies.

But Keane rates the defender highly and he had outstanding games against Sunderland last season.

Certainly Sunderland can compete with most Premier League sides in the transfer market now, but it is believed that Dunne himself favours a move to Tottenham Hotspur and would set to do 'a Jonathan Woodgate' by turning down Newcastle for a switch to Spurs.

Sunderland have been credited in some areas with an interest in Sheffield United midfielder Michael Tonge.

But even if they were interested, the Blades do not intend to give up their star man without a struggle.

Manager Kevin Blackwell said: "Although people will leave here, Michael is definitely not on that list."