SUNDERLAND are demanding £7m for Paddy McNair after Premier League new boys Wolverhampton Wanderers entered the battle for the midfielder’s signature.

Wolves, fresh from winning the Championship, are looking to boost Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad and the Black Cats man is on the radar.

Brighton and a host of Championship clubs have also expressed an interest in McNair but as of yet there are no offers to tempt a sale.

Sunderland’s owner Stewart Donald admitted last week that there had been other bids on the table for McNair, with some more than the £3.5m Brighton tabled.

Brighton are expected to return with a £5m bid, even though Sunderland are holding out for the £7m that Wolves are contemplating offering.

The 23-year-old is keen to play in the Premier League again. Even though his time on Wearside since moving from Manchester United has been restricted because of injury, he has still managed to show his quality and eye for a goal.

He cost £5.5m in 2016 and, despite not playing that many times, Sunderland would still like to make a profit on him because they would prefer him to stay.

Whatever outgoing transfer deals there are in the weeks ahead is likely to see an increase in budget for manager Jack Ross to be able to spend on his own recruitment.

Ross continues to be linked with more players north of the border, the latest being Kilmarnock’s Jordan Jones.

The winger left Middlesbrough in 2016 and has impressed in Scotland, where Ross knows all about him having managed St Mirren.

Hibernian’s John McGinn is one of the top targets and there is an acceptance at Easter Road that they will have to sell one of their prize assets if the right offer comes along. Sunderland are also keen on his team-mate Dylan McGeouch.

Hibs’ chief executive Leeane Dempster said: “John’s value is in the team. If John doesn’t go in the transfer window this season, I won’t be disappointed. Neil Lennon won’t be disappointed, the supporters won’t be disappointed. We don’t live and die by transfer fees.

“If we were to receive a transfer fee for a player of some significance, of course that would be welcome. That is balanced by the impact it would have on the team.

“John’s a magnificent young player. I would be very surprised if we’re not tested by a number of clubs.

“We’d still love Dylan to be back at Hibernian and we have tried quite hard to make that happen. There’s certainly a chance of it.

“Equally I think we need to be realistic and know that Dylan’s got many suitors - as I understand it, in Scotland and in England. He will make the decision that’s right for him at this point in his career.”

Ross is yet to make his first signing for Sunderland but he has cast the net wide to try to get things moving – and having a free hand on that front was one of the reasons he was attracted by the position.

He said: "Yes because it is such a key part of being successful, your recruitment and choice of players. If you are not selecting them but you are judged by them then it is a difficult position to be in, that is the attraction of here as well.

"There is a collection of information, I will live and die by the choices in terms of the players I will bring to to the club that I think will make us better. That was exciting as well."