CALUM DAVENPORT will have talks with Sunderland when he returns from holiday next week in the hope that he can still secure a move to the Stadium of Light.

New manager Steve Bruce has made an early move to bolster his squad’s defensive options by targeting Manchester City’s Richard Dunne.

But his recruitment of backline reinforcements is unlikely to stop at Dunne if a deal can be completed.

West Ham United are willing to move Davenport, the former England Under-21 international, on this summer and he would be quick to accept an offer to return to Wearside.

After a slow start following his loan move from Upton Park in January, Davenport finished last season as a regular in Ricky Sbragia’s team and admitted that he wanted to make the move a more longterm arrangement.

“I have enjoyed it and I would like to stay. I enjoy coming to the training ground to train and work,” he said in the final week of the season.

“The results haven’t been what I expected but that’s football. I just have to get on with it and see what happens in the summer.”

With Bruce expected back from holiday soon, developments on the transfer front will take an upsurge as July approaches and the start of pre-season training moves closer.

Davenport is also being courted by Wolves, who he turned down in January to move to Sunderland.

There is, though, no doubt that Sunderland are in the hunt for City defender Dunne.

Stoke City and Tottenham are both interested in the Republic of Ireland international, but it is a fight that Sunderland will be confident of winning.

There remains a strong interest in Darren Bent despite the change of management at Sunderland.