Sunderland have received a boost in their quest to sign St Johnstone youngster Ali McCann this summer, with Hull City unlikely to snap him up.
The Lowdown: Sunderland interested in signing McCann
Lee Johnson will be looking to delve into the transfer market in the coming weeks as his Black Cats side prepare for another League One promotion push.
One player with whom Sunderland have been linked is McCann, who made his mark for St Johnstone last season, registering two goals and two assists in the Scottish Premiership.
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The Latest: Black Cats given boost
The Black Cats have received a boost in their efforts to acquire the 21-year-old's signature, with The 72 claiming that Hull are now unlikely to sign him. That is due to a lack of transfer funds, meaning the Championship club may have to bring in players on loan or for free instead.
However, Swansea City and Stoke City are both thought to still be in the race to sign McCann, so Sunderland will have to work hard to get their man.
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The Verdict: Snap him up, Sunderland
McCann is an exciting young player but he already has a wealth of experience, having appeared 84 times for St Johnstone in all competitions and being hailed as "undroppable" by team-mate Jason Holt.
He has also won six caps for Northern Ireland, scoring once, and his quality in attacking midfield could provide extra guile in the final third for Sunderland.
Johnson's side isn't far away from returning to the Championship, as illustrated by a couple of play-off near misses, but someone of McCann's precocious quality could help take them to the next level.
In other news, some Sunderland fans have been reacting to a club announcement. Read more here.