JOEL ASORO is shaping up to be the most sought after Sunderland player of the summer and the club’s new owner Stewart Donald will have an early decision to make on his future.

The teenage forward was one of very few bright spots of the Black Cats’ disastrous Championship season and a growing number of teams are ready to test the water with an offer.

Donald is waiting for approval from the EFL to complete his takeover at the Stadium of Light and only then will he look to appoint a new manager.

But he also appreciates that things will have to move fast on the recruitment front when his takeover is confirmed, as they look to build a squad over the summer capable of attacking League One confidently.

Asoro is one of few players on Wearside who could command a sizeable transfer fee and there is no rush to let him go quickly because he is not one of the highest earners.

The 19-year-old is known to be admired by Sunderland’s Premier League neighbours Newcastle United, while Arsenal and Tottenham have both been credited with interest recently.

Wolves, newly promoted as champions of the second tier, have also let it be known they are interested in Asoro, who is due to enter the final year of his contract but is under the age of 24, and Sunderland will be in no rush to cash in.

That will not be the case with many of the players in the squad because of their lucrative contracts, with Sunderland in need of trimming costs to enable Donald and his first managerial appointment to start building again.

Sunderland will not be looking to keep the likes of Didier Ndong, due back after an unsuccessful loan at Watford, Wahbi Khazri and Papy Djilobodji, who have enjoyed spells with Rennes and Dijon respectively.

Given Sunderland’s situation it would be no surprise to see such players leave on the cheap just to ease the wage bill for the new manager to create a squad of players ready to go in the third tier.

It has effectively been confirmed that Fabio Borini will not be back. The Italian’s agent Roberto de Fanti, Sunderland’s former director of football, has stated Borini will join AC Milan permanently on July 1.

Borini has scored five times and recorded seven assists during his loan at the San Siro and now the £5.2m fee which was agreed last summer should become permanent this summer. Borini has also been linked with Juventus.

De Fanti said: “Yes, from the first of July it will be a player owned by the Rossoneri club until 2021. I would say Borini has had a positive season, given that there were low expectations when he arrived. He has proven to be worthy of Milan.

“Fabio is an exemplary professional and never seeks controversy, despite being played in several different roles across the pitch. He has worked very hard to be an important player for the club.

“He has never had any problems with Montella or Gattuso, adapting to their different tactical systems and philosophies. Clearly, Gattuso has switched from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3, which allowed him to return to an attacking position.

“I believe that the club are very happy with what Fabio has done this season. We feel the confidence from everyone. He has been a great signing. I think he will be a Milan player for a long time to come.

“Juventus? I think that such an adaptable player would be tempting for many clubs. After all, he has played for the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Roma – quality teams. The plan is to stay at Milan, as long as the club want him to remain.”