SIMON GRAYSON is hoping to push through a deal for Aiden McGeady before the end of the week, but the Sunderland boss faces stiff competition from Birmingham City as he looks to add Jordan Hugill to his Black Cats squad.

Grayson has identified McGeady and Hugill as his two leading targets from the Preston squad he presided over last season, and Sunderland chief executive Martin Bain has already spoken to Everton officials in an attempt to secure an agreement for the former.

McGeady is back on Everton’s books after spending last season on loan at Preston, but Toffees boss Ronald Koeman does not see the 31-year-old featuring in his plans and is keen to sell with the midfielder having entered the final year of his current contract.

Middlesbrough have also expressed an interest in acquiring McGeady’s services, but having spent last season playing under Grayson, the Irishman is keen to be reunited with his former boss at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are hoping to push through a deal for around £2m, and while Everton had initially been hoping for a higher price, a compromise should be achievable. Sunderland’s players are currently on a training camp in Austria, but it is hoped McGeady’s transfer will be concluded before Grayson takes charge of his first game in charge of the club at Bury on Friday.

Whether Hugill is also on board by then remains to be seen as it is likely to be more difficult to force through a move for the striker than for his former team-mate, McGeady.

Having been unable to prevent Grayson from leaving Deepdale at the end of last week, Preston officials are understandably reluctant to allow their former boss to cherry-pick the best players from their current squad.

Birmingham boss Harry Redknapp is also interested in Hugill, and has flagged up his intention to make a formal offer for the striker within the next couple of days.

Hugill, who signed a two-and-a-half year contract in October 2015, scored 13 goals last season, and both Birmingham and Sunderland would be willing to significantly increase his current wages. Reading, who missed out in the Championship play-offs last season, are also understood to be interested.

Grayson has instructed Bain to do all he can to land the 25-year-old, who started his career with Seaham Red Star and Consett in the Northern League, but Preston’s stance could make it difficult for the Black Cats to see off competition from their Championship rivals.

Grayson only took charge of his first training session in charge of Sunderland on Friday, but the new Black Cats boss has already suffered his first injury setback.

Paddy McNair will miss the start of the season after suffering a setback in his recovery from a cruciate ligament operation.

McNair has been sidelined since damaging his cruciates last November, but had recovered sufficiently to take part in some early pre-season work in Portugal last month along with fellow injury victim Duncan Watmore.

However, while Watmore has been passed fit to travel to Austria with the rest of Sunderland’s squad, McNair has been forced to remain on Wearside in order to work with members of the Black Cats’ medical staff.

He will not be involved in any of Sunderland’s pre-season matches, and is expected to miss the opening month of the season. He is also a major doubt for Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers with San Marino and Czech Republic in early September.

Grayson had been looking forward to working with McNair, who is one of a number of young players who has been earmarked for a major role in next season’s line-up.

Watmore, Donald Love and Lynden Gooch should feature prominently in the first team, with Grayson also keen to run the rule over the likes of Joel Asoro, Josh Maja, Ethan Robson and George Honeyman.

“I want to give younger players a chance,” said Grayson. “Maybe they didn’t play as much in the Premier League, but this is a different division now and they will be in and around it.

“They need guidance and help because of the number of games in this division with games to come Saturday – Tuesday – Saturday. But the younger players will get a chance too.”

Meanwhile, Sunderland’s home game with Leeds United on Saturday, August 19 has been selected for live television coverage and will now kick-off at 5.30pm.