SUNDERLAND are hoping to beat Championship rivals to the signing of ex-Leeds United winger Ian Poveda.

The 24-year-old attacker is a free agent having left Leeds when his contract expired at Elland Road earlier this summer.

The Colombian spent the second half of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and the Owls are keen on making that switch permanent this summer.

But Poveda is also understood to be a leading target for Sunderland.

The forward has plenty of Championship experience, having played 55 times in the second tier. He also made 14 Premier League appearances during his time at Leeds.

Poveda has spent most of the last three seasons out on loan, with the winger having spells with Blackpool and Blackburn, where he was managed by former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray.

Mowbray wanted to reunite with Poveda at Birmingham City in January but missed out on the winger to Wednesday.

Mowbray said earlier this year: “Poveda is a good player, I would have to say.

“We (Birmingham) were very close to signing Poveda in this window just gone. He's a player I had at Blackburn Rovers and is a very talented young boy.”

READ MORE:

Despite only making 10 appearances for Wednesday in an injury disrupted spell, Poveda impressed and Owls boss Danny Rohl remains keen on re-signing the winger this summer, though admitted this week: “On the one side we have interest from the club and what we want to do, but then there is the player’s side and the agent’s side.

"There must be a match and maybe there are some things that are maybe not a match and so it is different.

"In my mind Ian Poveda is not under contract, we will look in the end where he is and what we can do, but it must be a decision together.”

Burnley and Luton have also been linked with the forward, who has three goals and five Championship assists to his name. Sunderland believe a settled home will help to get the best out of the forward.