UDINESE are set to step up their interest in Pierre Ekwah after signalling their intention to launch a formal bid for the Sunderland midfielder.

However, despite suggestions to the contrary, the Black Cats have not received an offer for Trai Hume from Galatasaray.

With overseas interest in a number of Sunderland players hotting up, Ekwah is the subject of strengthening attention from Italian club Udinese, who are looking to strengthen after finishing 15th in Serie A last season.

Udinese officials have held preliminary talks with the hierarchy at the Stadium of Light, and while those discussions have yet resulted in a formal offer, there is an expectation that a bid is imminent.

Ekwah has three years of his remaining contract to run, so Sunderland are under no pressure to sell the 22-year-old, who moved to Wearside from West Ham academy’s ranks in January 2023.

However, while the midfielder was an influential part of the first-team squad last season, starting 37 of the Black Cats’ 46 Championship matches, the club’s recruitment team, led by sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, could decide to cash in on the Frenchman while his stock is high.

Ekwah initially joined Sunderland for a minimal fee, however a series of clauses were included in the deal, the majority of which are understood to have been met, forcing the Wearsiders to shell out more money. Nevertheless, Udinese’s interest means there is the potential to bank a considerable profit that could then be reinvested into other areas of the squad.

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The situation is complicated by the hefty sell-on clause that West Ham inserted into the deal that took Ekwah to the North-East, which is understood to entitle them to 35 per cent of the profits from any future sale.

Even so, Ekwah would command a significant fee if he was to move this summer, and the feeling within the Italian media is that Udinese are reasonably confident of being able to pull off a deal.

Hume is another player that has been linked with a possible move away from the Stadium of Light in recent days, with Galatasaray having been credited with an interest in the full-back.

The Turkish club are understood to have included Hume on a list of potential defensive targets, however there has been no formal contract with Sunderland officials and senior sources have dismissed suggestions that a £7m bid has been rejected. At this stage, Sunderland have not received an offer for Hume, who remains an important part of the club’s plans for next season.

Able to play at both right-back or centre-half, as he proved last term, Hume has been a big success story since moving to Wearside from Linfield.

Like Ekwah, Hume has another three years of his current contract remaining, and like his team-mate, the Northern Ireland international is also the subject of a sell-on clause affecting future transactions. Linfield are set to receive 15 per cent of any fee over £150,000 that Sunderland receive for Hume, which could result in a hefty pay day given the 22-year-old’s potential value as a proven Championship performer and established international.

Hume is not the only Sunderland defender being linked with a possible move abroad, with Dan Ballard reportedly interesting former Black Cats managerial target, Will Still, as he looks to improve the squad he has inherited at his new club, Lens.

Ballard has also been linked with newly-promoted Premier League club, Ipswich Town, although it remains to be seen whether the centre-half injury situation will put off potential suitors.

Ballard suffered a knee injury in Sunderland’s opening pre-season game against South Shields last weekend, and is set to undergo surgery that is expected to sideline him for around six weeks. As a result, he is likely to miss the first four league games of the season, as well as the Carabao Cup first-round game with Preston, and will only just be returning to fitness when the transfer window closes at the end of next month.