LUTON TOWN have emerged as Sunderland’s latest rivals in the battle to sign AFC Wimbledon midfielder Jack Rudoni.

The Black Cats have seen two offers rejected for the 21-year-old, who has expressed a desire to leave Wimbledon following their relegation to League Two last season.

The Dons are holding out for at least £1m for Rudoni, and are insisting they want almost all of that fee paid up front rather than in a series of clauses spread out over the next few seasons.

Sunderland feel that overvalues the midfielder, but with the number of Championship clubs in discussion with Wimbledon continuing to increase, they might well have to offer a seven-figure fee if they are to land one of Alex Neil’s main summer targets.

Huddersfield Town have also had at least one bid rejected in the last few weeks, and like the Black Cats, the Terriers feel Wimbledon are currently demanding too high a figure for a player who has not played at a level higher than the third tier and that has not yet made 100 senior starts.

Bristol City were linked with a possible interest in Rudoni last week, and now Luton have become the latest club to have held discussions with Wimbledon officials.

The Hatters only narrowly missed out on winning promotion last season as they lost to Huddersfield in the play-off semi-finals, and while Nathan Jones is not looking to make major changes to his squad this summer, he is keen to add two or three new faces to freshen things up.

Rudoni has been identified as an appealing option, although Luton are yet to table a formal bid and it remains unclear what valuation they have placed on the Carshalton-born midfielder.

Sunderland have made one signing so far this summer, with Daniel Ballard having made a permanent move from Arsenal last week for a fee of around £1.5m.

They remain in discussions aimed at re-signing last season’s loan duo, Jack Clarke and Nathan Broadhead, and are hoping to make progress on both fronts this week.

Lynden Gooch, Bailey Wright and Patrick Roberts have all signed new deals that ensure they will remain part of the Black Cats squad next season.