DAVID MOYES is banking on being able to spend a little bit of money at Sunderland this month – even if the challenge is to raise it first.

The Black Cats have held a number of discussions with clubs in the hope of boosting the manager’s squad and the chances of survival with it.

And while Sunderland are looking to strike deals that are structured in a way that suits them at a time when money is tight, Moyes is at least targeting players worth a fee.

Norwich City’s Robbie Brady is known to be Sunderland’s preferred attacking midfield target, and an offer ultimately worth around £10m has been made.

There has also been interest expressed in Everton defender Phil Jagielka, while Montpellier’s playmaker Ryad Boudebouz has also emerged as a possible target. There is also interest in him from home and abroad.

Boudebouz has previously been heavily linked with Newcastle United because he has been on chief scout Graham Carr’s watched list for a number of years.

He moved to Montpellier in 2015 after spells with Sochaux and Bastia. He has scored nine times in 54 appearances and could be moved on.

Sunderland have spent the majority of January stating there are only ‘limited funds’ available for transfers and new signings would have to be done on the cheap.

There is known to be interest in a number of Sunderland players, such as Lamine Kone, Jermain Defoe, but Moyes has always insisted recruitment rather than sales will be key this month.

The offer for Brady is thought to have been substantial, although Burnley – who are performing better than Sunderland in the Premier League so far this season – have also tabled a bid for him.

Norwich boss Alex Neil said: “There have been negotiations that are on-going and contact from other clubs. I am not going to be specific about who that is or how much we are talking about. There has been dialogue.

“With Robbie I wouldn’t expect anything to happen soon because it is not at those levels. It will be our timescale and on our terms.

"I think there will potentially be one more out and then we can hopefully shuffle the squad a little bit.”

There is nothing imminent, though, and Sunderland will still be going into Saturday’s trip to West Brom with the same group of players to call on.

Selling Fabio Borini would certainly help Sunderland’s cause on the transfer front. While Moyes was not prepared to entertain offloading Defoe, there is more of a chance he would listen to offers for Borini.

The Italian has had a stuttering season so far because of injury but is a key member of the squad given the lack of options to play where he plays.

Borini is aware of strong interest in him from his Italian homeland, but the majority of those interested are keen to do a loan deal which would not suit Sunderland. Napoli have also been credited with an interest and they do have more money to spend.

Sunderland’s Under-23s drew 0-0 with Derby County at St George’s Park on Thursday afternoon.