Last Updated: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:03
Sunderland seem set to miss out on Genoa centre-half Andreas Granqvist, who has also been linked with Lazio, Roma and Spurs.
Boss Martin O'Neill is expected to bring in defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window and has been heavily linked with Swedish international Granqvist.
Matt Kilgallon and Titus Bramble are out of contract in the summer and speculation suggests neither player will be offered a new deal, while Wes Brown remains a long-term absentee.
O'Neill had been expected to make a January move for 27-year-old Granqvist, who has previously played for Premier League side Wigan, but the player insists he has no desire to leave current club Genoa in January.
"I'm happy to stay with Genoa but I don't know what will happen," Granqvist said. "Everything depends on the president (Enrico Preziosi)."
Even if the Italian strugglers do decide to cash in on the defender Sunderland will face a battle to secure a deal as Lazio, Roma, Spurs, Liverpool and Zenit St Petersburg have all been credited with an interest.
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