Last Updated: Sat, 17 May 2008 13:57
West Ham will reportedly now face competition from Sunderland if they decide to make a bid for Manchester City defender Richard Dunne.
The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international has already been linked with the Hammers and the Black Cats' north-east rivals Newcastle since the Premier League season ended last Sunday.
However, Sunderland boss Roy Keane is now thought to be considering a £2.5million swoop for Dunne, who has had an excellent season at Eastlands.
The current City skipper still has a year to run on his deal but uncertainty over the future of boss Sven-Goran Eriksson seems to have derailed new contract talks. And the longer that issue goes unresolved then it is likely that Dunne will look to gain the security of a long-term deal elsewhere.
Keane is set to be handed around £50million to try and take the Wearsiders to the next level in the Premier League after managing to survive in their first season back. However, it seems his top defensive target is Manchester United starlet Jonny Evans, who spent another successful loan spell at the Stadium of Light in the second half of the campaign.