SUNDERLAND will attempt to sign long-term defensive target Virgil van Dijk this summer if they successfully retain their Premier League status in the next two games.

And having tracked the Celtic defender for the best part of two years, the Black Cats have seen their chances of landing the 23-year-old increase after he signalled his desire to leave Parkhead this summer.

Lee Congerton made an aborted effort to sign van Dijk last summer, only for Celtic’s refusal to budge on their £10m valuation of the centre-half to force the Black Cats to shelve their interest.

Since then, van Dijk has played a key role in Celtic’s triumph in both the SPL and Scottish League Cup, but the uncompetitive nature of the Scottish top-flight has forced him to reassess his options.

He is determined to break into the Dutch national side, and has accepted that a move away from Glasgow could be a major help to his international ambitions.

“Celtic are a great club with a fantastic stadium, and the fans are great,” said van Dijk. “But the competition is not too good.

“I want to develop. If the opportunity is there, I would definitely consider a transfer. But maybe there will be nothing.”

His comments will be of considerable interest to Sunderland’s recruitment team, with at least one new centre-half a key priority this summer.

Wes Brown and Anthony Reveillere will both come to the end of their contracts next month, and as things stand, neither is expected to be offered a new deal at the Stadium of Light if the Black Cats remain in the Premier League.

Sebastian Coates and Santiago Vergini are only on Wearside on loan, and while there is the option of a agreeing a two-year permanent deal with the latter, the acquisition of an experienced central defender is regarded as a key requirement.

Sunderland scouts have watched van Dijk intermittently in the last 18 months, and he remains extremely highly regarded within the club’s recruitment network.

Whoever is appointed as permanent head coach in the summer will have an input into the identification and capture of new signings, and if Dick Advocaat is handed the opportunity to remain in his current position beyond the end of the season, he is expected to support the pursuit of his compatriot.

Whether Sunderland can pull off a deal remains to be seen, as they will face considerable competition if van Dijk is given the green light to leave Parkhead. Tottenham and Southampton have been heavily linked with his services, along with a number of clubs in the Bundesliga.

Major changes are in the offing this summer, regardless of what division Sunderland find themselves playing in next season, and Oldham boss Darren Kelly is ready to test the Black Cats’ resolve to hold on to youngster Duncan Watmore.

Watmore scored his sixth goal in the last six reserve games as Sunderland’s development team beat Chelsea on Monday night, but his only senior appearance came as a substitute in an FA Cup win over Carlisle United in January 2014.

Kelly worked with Watmore when he was a coach at the Academy of Light, and as he ponders a summer rebuild at Boundary Park, he admits the 21-year-old forward is one of the players on his wish list.

“I think he’s absolutely fantastic,” said the Oldham manager. “He should be playing first-team football at Sunderland, I believe.

“If I thought for a second we could get him, then he would be a great acquisition. I’d say watch this space, though.”