Sunderland are the latest club to be linked with Manchester City’s out-of-contract defender Micah Richards, according to the Sunderland Echo.
The Black Cats were offered the ex-England international on loan at the start of the season, but former boss Gus Poyet decided against the move.
Richards has been at Manchester City since 2005, but has spent most of this season at loan at Fiorentina. The 26-year-old is deemed surplus to requirements at the Etihad, and the defender is not expecting to be handed a new deal by manager Manuel Pellegrini.
With Wes Brown and Anthony Reveillere out of contract in the summer, and Sebastian Coates and Santiago Vergini only on loan, the Black Cats are expecting a busy summer at the Stadium of Light, regardless of which league they will be playing in.
Sunderland are facing a real fight for Premier League survival – as they go into the last three league games in the relegation zone.