SUNDERLAND are ready to increase their offer for Tottenham full-back DeAndre Yedlin, but have missed out on another defensive target after James Tomkins completed a £10m move to Crystal Palace.

The Black Cats made a number of inquiries about Tomkins at the start of the summer, with Sam Allardyce having worked with the 27-year-old during his time at West Ham.

However, they were quick to cool their interest once it became clear that West Ham were demanding an eight-figure fee for the centre-half.

Sunderland are understood to have valued Tomkins at around half that price, and were unwilling to become drawn into a bidding war.

That enabled Palace to step up their own interest, and Tomkins yesterday signed a five-year deal at Selhurst Park after Eagles boss Alan Pardew agreed to pay £10m for his services.

Allardyce remains keen to sign at least two defenders this summer, with a centre-half and a right-back at the top of his list of priorities.

Yedlin remains a viable option in the latter position, although a series of discussions with Tottenham have failed to result in a deal being agreed.

Sunderland have indicated a willingness to pay around £3m for the United States international, who spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light.

Tottenham have been holding out for closer to £6m, but there is a strong chance that a compromise could be agreed.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino does not see Yedlin playing a prominent role next season – Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier are ahead of him in the pecking order – and Yedlin would be happy to make a permanent move to Wearside after enjoying his temporary spell.

Further talks are anticipated in the next few days, with Allardyce keen to make his first transfer breakthrough of the summer before his side kick off their pre-season match schedule at Hartlepool on July 20. Sunderland’s players are due to fly to Austria tomorrow for a nine-day behind-closed-doors training camp.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have extended their partnership with Dafabet, which will see the online gambling company remain as the club’s principal partner until the end of the 2018-19 season.

The Black Cats originally announced the link-up in the summer of 2015, and the extension to the current agreement sees Dafabet become one of the club’s longest-serving main sponsors.