Last Updated: Thu, 01 May 2008 14:53
Sunderland are hoping to hijack Birmingham's bid to sign Mauro Zarate, who will be up for grabs in the summer.
The forward has impressed since arriving at Birmingham from Qatar club Al-Sadd and the Blues are hoping to turn his loan deal into a permanent switch this summer.
Birmingham do have first option on the player but that all depends on them staying in the Premiership and Black Cats boss Roy Keane is monitoring the situation.
Zarate has chipped in with four goals for the Blues and his form has won him a host of admirers.