SUNDERLAND are pressing ahead on a number of fronts in the hope of giving Dick Advocaat a transfer boost before pre-season training starts next week.

As well as the discussions with West Ham United and Liverpool for Stewart Downing and Sebastien Coates respectively, sporting director Lee Congerton is remaining hopeful that a deal for Arsenal full-back Carl Jenkinson will come to fruition.

It has emerged that Sunderland have also made moves for both Queens Park Rangers winger Matt Phillips and Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar; neither player is close to agreeing a switch to the Stadium of Light at this stage.

Both men have a number of options open to them, although Dutch defender Vlaar is known to appreciate Advocaat’s managerial prowess and is said to be tempted to join up with him.

The Northern Echo: Matt Phillips

TRANSFER TARGET: Matt Phillips

The stumbling block, though, is that there is also tentative interest in him from Champions League clubs, which is preventing a quick decision. Newcastle and Southampton are also interested.

But it has also emerged that Phillips is the latest winger to be targeted by Congerton, who spent last week contacting PSV Eindhoven to assess the availability of Giorginio Wijnaldum.

Phillips, 24, is set to leave QPR following relegation and the problem at this stage is that the Loftus Road club are seeking around £8m for a player who was in and out of the team last season.

But he would provide Advocaat with the extra option on the wing that is being sought before the start of next season. Crystal Palace and West Brom are both courting him too and QPR are determined to make sure they get their valuation to strengthen their own chances of a quick return to the Premier League next season.