SUNDERLAND are understood to have pulled out of a proposed deal for Liverpool full-back Tony Gallacher – raising hopes that Denver Hume could be set to sign a new deal at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats had agreed the terms of a deal that would have seen Gallacher released from his contract at Liverpool, enabling him to move to Wearside as a free agent. As part of the arrangement, Liverpool would have been entitled to a hefty sell-on percentage of any future transfer fee for the left-back.

However, it now appears as though Sunderland have backed out of the deal, meaning Gallacher will have to look elsewhere for a move away from Anfield.

While Lee Johnson has been speaking to a number of different defensive targets in the last week or so, today’s developments have raised hopes that Hume could be about to commit his long-term future to Sunderland.

The 22-year-old has spent the summer receiving medical treatment at the Academy of Light, even though his contract expired last month.

A series of discussions about a new deal have taken place, with Johnson admitting earlier this week that there would have to be a definitive conclusion before the start of the new season a week on Saturday.

“Denver is still injured and hasn’t signed a contract, simple as that,” said the Sunderland head coach. “I think it's got to be resolved, one way or another. It's restrictive to us if he's not going to sign, and it's not ideal if he is going to sign.

“I've said before that I see Luke O'Nien and Aiden McGeady as signings and Denver is in the same bracket. It's Denver or another.

“We need to make sure we resolve that, and I expect it to be resolved over the next ten days. For me the deadline is seventh of August, simple as that.”