SUNDERLAND owner Stewart Donald has confirmed he wants to sign Middlesbrough captain Grant Leadbitter this summer, albeit after the first round of incoming deals at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats are on the verge of signing former Hearts defender Alim Ozturk, among a handful of players they are in advanced negotiations with who Donald feels will be on board before pre-season training starts on June 27.

Bury striker Chris Maguire and Wimbledon’s Lyle Taylor are believed to be two of the other players Sunderland are close to signing, as Donald looks to get players in for Jack Ross’ reign as manager to enjoy a lift when the squad joins up next week.

Donald said: “Two strikers came up on Monday, a midfielder is in from Scotland which I am hopeful will sign. We have a full-back I think will sign and a goalkeeper I think will sign.

“I hope they will have all signed before pre-season training starts. We will leave a few holes, but those will start us off. We want to get our wage bill down, but those six signings are likely to cost less than one of our top earners.”

Once those deals are over the line, Sunderland are expected to look at other targets – provided more players depart.

One of those in Sunderland’s thinking is Wearside-born and a boyhood Black Cats fans Leadbitter, who has signalled no intention to drop down to the Championship and leave Middlesbrough this summer.

Donald told the Roker Report fans’ podcast: “He is someone on our radar. If it happens it will be a permanent deal. We are not far down the line with that. What we have said to Middlesbrough is we are interested but let’s get Paddy (McNair) down the line first.”

The Sunderland owner – who also confirmed that they are trying to do a deal for Peterborough’s former Hartlepool defender Jack Baldwin - openly admitted Middlesbrough and Stoke have matched the club’s valuation for McNair, so the wait is on to see if anyone else comes in for a young man who wants to leave the Stadium of Light.

Donald said: “Has Paddy turned in a transfer request? No. Has his agent told us that Paddy McNair will not play for the club again? Yes. Not one Premier League club has reached the valuation, Middlesbrough and Stoke are close.

“Brighton don’t see him past £3m. If we say it was £5m or whatever, the market now knows we have accepted an offer for £5m. The only other club (than Middlesbrough) who have done that is Stoke. If the others don’t value him at that then they are not in the race.”

McNair is one of the majority of players who want to leave following relegation to League One, while goalkeeper Jason Steele has signed a three-year deal with Brighton after securing a free transfer. Next week more could go, including Jack Rodwell who is wanted in the MLS.

Donald also confirmed Lee Cattermole and even George Honeyman have indicated through their agent, former Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne, they want to leave.

He said: “Lee’s representatives have indicated he will not be here but then they say he will not leave a penny behind, which is the five year deal he was given by his agent who used to work here. It’s not Lee’s fault, the club has to honour it. I am sure if he is here he will give 100 per cent for this club because that’s his character.”

He added: “His (Honeyman) agent has said he would prefer to be a Championship or Premier League footballer. He may well want to stay.

“But the conversations the club have had is not massively dissimilar to Paddy McNair. Hopefully Duncan Watmore will stay, who is injured. Adam Matthews will stay. Ethan Robson will stay. Elliot Embleton wants to.”

Joel Asoro has also indicated he wants to leave, while there will be a couple of gifted academy youngsters who will be leaving too after attracting attention from Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal.