SUNDERLAND are attempting to steal a march on their North-East rivals, Newcastle United, by stepping up their interest in wing duo Andros Townsend and Georginio Wijnaldum.

The Black Cats are hoping to strengthen in a number of different areas this summer, and with Dick Advocaat having identified a lack of creativity as a key failing in the squad he inherited from Gus Poyet, the addition of at least one new wide player is regarded as a priority.

With another target, Stewart Downing, being considered as a candidate for a central midfield role, Townsend and Wijnaldum are currently regarded as Sunderland’s preferred wing options.

However, it will not be easy to pull off a deal for either player, with Newcastle joining a host of other clubs in pursuit of a duo who are set to command price tags in excess of £10m.

Townsend’s future is the most uncertain, even though the 23-year-old has reluctantly accepted he will almost certainly have to leave White Hart Lane this summer if he is to retain his place in Roy Hodgson’s England team.

Townsend was a surprise starter in England’s recent Euro 2016 qualifying win in Slovenia despite making just ten Premier League starts for Spurs last season, but while Hodgson clearly has a great deal of faith in his abilities, he would be unlikely to make the squad for next summer’s European Championships if he was to be a fringe performer at club level again next season.

While Swansea and Aston Villa have also been linked with the winger – not to mention Newcastle, who are understood to have made an initial inquiry with Tottenham officials – Sunderland are hoping that a firm offer could enable them to leap to the front of the queue.

Spurs are unlikely to agree to an early departure though, as sources in London claim they are hoping to use Townsend as part of a deal for Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.

Having been unable to sign Schneiderlin last summer, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is determined to be more successful this time around, and Townsend is regarded as a potentially useful bargaining tool in any future negotiations.

Wijnaldum’s position is more clear cut as there is a widespread acceptance that he will leave PSV Eindhoven this summer, with his current employers willing to sell him to the highest bidder.

The Dutch media are reporting firm contact between Sunderland sporting director Lee Congerton and senior PSV officials, with Advocaat’s links to Wijnaldum likely to play a prominent role in discussions.

Advocaat worked with the 24-year-old, who boasts 19 senior international caps for Holland, when he was in charge of PSV in the 2012-13 season, and continues to rate him extremely highly.

However, he is not the only person courting the winger this summer, and with the likes of Manchester United, Monaco and Marseille also having been extensively linked, PSV can afford to dig their heels in to demand an exorbitant fee.

The Dutch club have already turned down a £10m offer from Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, and are understood to be demanding at least £15m before they will consider entering into serious negotiations.

As well as targeting creative midfielders, Sunderland are also hoping to recruit defenders this summer. A deal for Liverpool’s Sebastian Coates is already in place, but moves for defensive duo Tiago Ilori, of Liverpool, and Sam Byram, of Leeds, are proving more difficult to complete.

Ilori is currently representing Portugal at the European Under-21 Championships, and his father has claimed he will definitely be starting pre-season training with Liverpool.

The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at French Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, and while his father, Kola, confirmed Sunderland’s interest, he also suggested Wearside could be ‘too cold’ for his son to consider moving there.

“We talked last week with Liverpool and they say they will take a chance and he will make the pre-season and the tour of Thailand,” he said. “There are other clubs interested, like Sunderland, but Sunderland is a very cold city.”

Byram is a target at full-back, with the 21-year-old about to enter the final year of his contract at Championship side Leeds United.

Sunderland regard the youngster as a viable alternative to Carl Jenkinson, who has hinted he would rather remain in London than join the Black Cats on loan, but Byram insists he is focused on starting the new season with Leeds.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to pre-season and trying to impress throughout the month,” he said. “There’s new staff that have come in as well, so I’m looking forward to getting back in and meeting all the new players.

“It shows that the club are making moves in the right direction. They’re bringing people in that have got experience and young players to add to the squad. These are all good things.”