SUNDERLAND remain hopeful of completing a Ligue 1 double deal as they continue to hold discussions over the potential capture of Clement Chantome and Martin Braithwaite.

Chantome, a 28-year-old central midfielder, has been on Sunderland’s radar for a number of months, with Black Cats scouts having watched him on a regular basis last season.

He is available as a free agent, having turned down the offer of a new contract at his most recent employers Bordeaux, and his representatives have held a series of discussions with Sunderland officials.

They have also held talks with Everton and Middlesbrough, with the former pushing particularly hard following the appointment of Ronald Koeman.

Koeman was interested in Chantome while he was manager at Southampton, and is understood to have included the Frenchman’s name on a list of potential targets that was submitted to the Goodison Park hierarchy prior to the confirmation of his appointment on Merseyside.

Sunderland’s interest in Chantome reflects Sam Allardyce’s desire to remodel his side’s midfield this season, with doubts continuing to surround the future of Yann M’Vila.

M’Vila spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light from Russian side Rubin Kazan, and is available for transfer having entered the final six months of his current deal.

However, Kazan are attempting to extract the highest possible value before agreeing to any deal, and Sunderland will also have to strike a compromise over the midfielder’s current wages in Russia, which are understood to exceed £100,000-a-week.

There is also uncertainty over Seb Larsson’s future, with the Swede having made just six Premier League starts in the whole of last season.

Larsson has refused to discuss his future plans while on international duty at Euro 2016, but Chantome’s arrival would push him closer to the exit door, with Leeds United boss Garry Monk keen to take him to Elland Road.

As well as holding discussions with Chantome, Sunderland are also in talks with Toulouse over Braithwaite, a 25-year-old Denmark international who scored 12 Ligue 1 goals last season.

West Ham have already had two bids rejected for Braithwaite – the most recent was around £3m – and while Toulouse could lose the striker for nothing next summer when his contract expires, the French club are holding out for around £5m.

Whether Sunderland are willing to pay that remains to be seen, but they have held an initial round of talks along with Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile, the Black Cats will complete their preparations for next season with a pre-season friendly against German giants Borussia Dortmund.

Sunderland will take on the Bundesliga side in Austria’s Cashpoint Arena, the home of SC Rheindorf Altach, on Friday, August 5 (7pm).

The game, which will follow three matches in France, will round off Sunderland’s preparations ahead of their opening Premier League game against Manchester City, and ticket details will be announced soon.