SUNDERLAND are hoping to pull off two deals in the next few days, with Bailey Wright and Matija Sarkic both firmly in the club’s sights.

The Black Cats made their first signing of the summer last Thursday when Aiden O’Brien signed as a free agent following his release from Millwall, but Phil Parkinson is targeting at least another four or five additions as he looks to rebuild ahead of the new League One season.

Like O’Brien, Wright is a free agent following his release from Bristol City, and having enjoyed his time on loan at the Stadium of Light last season, the centre-half is set to pen a permanent deal with the Black Cats.

Wright is understood to have been on holiday, which has held up confirmation of a decision over his future. However, with Sunderland’s first-team squad having returned to light training last week, Parkinson is keen to reintegrate the 28-year-old Australian into his first-team group as quickly as possible.

With Tom Flanagan having re-signed last week, and with Jordan Willis still contracted for another season, Wright’s return would leave Parkinson reasonably happy with his central-defensive options, although he would ideally like one more addition to replace Alim Ozturk, who left at the end of last season.

The Sunderland boss needs a goalkeeper to replace Jon McLaughlin, who was only on the substitutes’ bench as Rangers kicked off the new Scottish Premiership season with a win at Aberdeen on Saturday.

Lee Burge is set to start the season as Sunderland’s number one, but Parkinson wants another option and Black Cats officials have held talks with Wolves over a possible loan deal for Sarkic.

The 23-year-old has only just moved to Molineux from Aston Villa, but Wolves regard him as a long-term investment and are keen to loan him out to a lower-league club this summer.

Sunderland have confirmed their interest in the Montenegro international, although Parkinson also has the option of offering a contract to former Black Cat Ben Alnwick, who spent part of last season training at the Academy of Light.

Anthony Patterson signed a new deal with Sunderland last week, but the youngster is not yet regarded as a viable rival for Burge.