A SUNDERLAND return for Ellis Simms this summer is looking increasingly unlikely, with Everton hoping interest from several Championship clubs will spark a bidding war and the Premier League club looking for much as £10m for the striker.

Simms impressed on loan at Sunderland in the first half of last season before he was recalled by Everton early in the January window as the Toffees battled against Premier League relegation.

Having survived on the final day, Sean Dyche is now looking to make the most of his first full summer in charge and attempting to strengthen his squad to avoid another season of struggle at the bottom of the division. Adding to the forward line is a priority, which will push Simms down the pecking order.

And with the striker entering the final 12 months of his contract at Goodison Park, the Toffees are believed to be open to letting the 22-year-old move on. But he won't come cheap, with reports from Merseyside saying the Premier League club value him at between £7m and £10m.

That sort of fee is likely to deter Championship clubs, and while Sunderland will keep an eye on Simms' situation, the Black Cats have no interest whatsoever in engaging in a bidding war with their league rivals.

Ipswich Town, planning for their first season back in the Championship and with money to spend, Swansea City and Coventry City, who are likely to have to replace Viktor Gyokeres this summer, are all keen on Simms, who scored seven goals in 17 Championship appearances for Sunderland last season.

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Sporting Lisbon are desperately trying to push through a deal to sign Gyokeres and are said to have made an offer of £18.5m plus significant add-ons, but Coventry are holding out for at least £20m. Everton, ironically, also have an interest in the Sky Blues striker.

Sunderland added to their forward line with the capture of teenage striker Luis Semedo last month, but with Ross Stewart unlikely to be fit for the start of the season, boss Tony Mowbray still wants another senior striker through the door before the Championship campaign gets underway.

He said: “I’m hoping there’s still a few more new faces to come into the building. We could probably do with some help up the top end of the pitch.

“If you think that Ross isn’t quite ready yet, then we’ve only really got young Hemir Luis Semedo, but he is still a boy, and it’s a lot of burden for him to be the only senior striker that we’ve got.

“We could probably do with some help at the top end of the pitch over the next few weeks, and I’m sure we’re working very hard behind the scenes on that.”