Sunderland and Middlesbrough both interested in Troy Parrott

Parrott’s future is set to be resolved in the next few days, with Spurs’ players having returned from a pre-season trip to South Korea.

Antonio Conte’s side are due to face Rangers at Ibrox tomorrow, and while Parrott was included in the squad that played two matches in South Korea last week, he does not form part of Antonio Conte’s plans for next season.

As a result, Conte is ready to sanction his departure on a season-long loan, with the Republic of Ireland international having spent last season away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at MK Dons.

Parrott scored ten goals in all competitions at Stadium MK, and his performances in League One mean he has been on Sunderland’s transfer radar from the moment they won promotion from the third tier in May.

The Black Cats have submitted a loan offer to the hierarchy at Spurs, with Alex Neil keen to add Parrott to a forward line that is currently hugely reliant on Ross Stewart.

Neil is also hoping to re-sign Nathan Broadhead from Everton, with talks with the Toffees ongoing, and if he could secure the services of both players, he would feel his attacking resources were well stocked.

Ideally, Sunderland would like a decision on Parrott as quickly as possible, although once Spurs officially give the green light for a loan move, it will then come down to where the 20-year-old wants to play his football next season.

While location will be a consideration, with a move to QPR enabling him to remain at his current base in London, his chief priority is to ensure he gets as much first-team football as possible next season.

Stewart’s presence in the Sunderland squad could be a complicating factor, as the Scotsman is set to remain as the Black Cats’ first-choice forward, but Neil played with two up front on a number of occasions last season and Parrott should get every opportunity to force his way into the team if he was to move to the Stadium of Light.

Middlesbrough are also interested, with Chris Wilder having confirmed that he has lodged formal offers for three different forwards at Premier League clubs.

Boro have an interest in Southampton’s Adam Armstrong and Brentford’s Marcus Forss, but Parrott is also a player who has been discussed extensively amongst the Teessiders’ recruitment team this summer.

As things stand, Boro are heading into the new season with Josh Coburn and Duncan Watmore as their only senior forwards, so there is clearly a need for a number of additions before the transfer window swings shut.

Where Parrott would fall within the new pecking order remains to be seen, but having finished just outside the play-off positions last season, Boro officials will feel they can offer the realistic possibility of being involved in a promotion battle next term.

That could help swing things their way, with Spurs wanting to provide Parrott with as competitive an environment as possible as they look to progress his development.

While Boro addressed their goalkeeping position earlier this week with the loan signing of Manchester City’s Zack Steffen, Sunderland continue to look for a new shot-stopper.

The Wearsiders would like to sign Daniel Iversen on loan, but Leicester City are still to decide what they are going to do with the 25-year-old Dane, who spent last season on loan at Preston.

While Sunderland boast Anthony Patterson as their current number one, their only alternative to the youngster is the untried Jacob Carney, who started Tuesday’s friendly defeat at Bradford City.

“We need to strengthen in a whole host of positions,” said Neil. “Jacob’s a young lad, he’s inexperienced, but I think he will become a good goalkeeper.

“We as a group are inexperienced. Even a lot of our older lads, they haven’t played at the level we’re going to. That carries its own risk, but equally, it’s quite exciting in that they might go there and do really, really well.”