Sunderland are looking at making a move for former Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Jay Spearing, according to The Sun (5 July, page 61).

Black Cats boss Phil Parkinson will have a difficult summer ahead as he looks to rebuild his side after a second successive season without gaining promotion from League One to the Championship.

Finishing eighth in the League One standings, Sunderland missed on a play-off place and the pressure will now be firmly on Parkinson to deliver in season.

Approaching the summer, the Wearsiders have now been linked with a move for 31-year-old midfielder Spearing, who is currently a free agent.

The Sun claims that Parkinson is keen to link up with Spearing after previously coaching him during their time at Bolton.

Spearing has been offered the chance to move to Merseyside having received an offer from Tranmere Rovers, but Sunderland are keen to see him come in and help them in their promotion push.

The midfielder, who is valued at £540k by Transfermarkt, initially began his professional career with Liverpool before spells with Leicester City, Bolton, Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool.

This could be a smart piece of transfer business on Sunderland's behalf. With the pandemic meaning that finances in all walks of life around the world are tight, signing a player worth more than half a million on a free would surely be a clever move.

Added to that, Spearing is an experienced campaigner not only at League One level, but also in the Championship having made 147 second tier appearances. He is also a League Cup winner having been part of the Liverpool squad which won the competition in 2012.

He recently played 30 games for Blackpool in League One and with the Black Cats having already lost older heads such as Jon McLaughlin and Alim Ozturk, bringing in a player of Spearing's experience can surely only be a benefit.

Do you think Spearing is the correct signing for Sunderland? Let us know in the comments section below...