SUNDERLAND officials are quietly confident that out-of-contract midfielder Seb Larsson will be the club’s first signing of the summer later next month.

Larsson’s exit from Birmingham City was confirmed last week, and the 25-year-old has already received offers from four Premier League clubs.

One of those, Newcastle United, are understood to have cooled their interest after a bid for Lille midfielder Yohan Cabaye was accepted at the end of last week, but Sunderland still face competition from Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers.

However, Black Cats boss Steve Bruce enjoys a close personal relationship with Larsson having taken him to St Andrew’s from Arsenal during his time as manager of Birmingham, and it is hoped the pair’s previous history of working together will influence the Swede’s next choice of club.

Larsson will not make a decision on his future until he has helped his national side negotiate a tricky Euro 2012 qualifying double-header against Moldova and Finland at the start of next month.

However, he is expected to initiate talks with his preferred suitor shortly after that, and having rejected the opportunity to make a cut-price bid for Larsson’s services in January, Bruce, who is also pursuing free agents David Vaughan and Kieren Westwood, is confident of landing him for nothing.

“Seb has a few offers from some good clubs,” said the midfielder’s agent, Per Jonsson. “He will need a few weeks to consider his future.

“We have the international games coming up, but after those games we will be sorting out his future pretty quickly. By the first or second week in June, everything should be sorted out.

“There have been four clubs from the Premier League who have made approaches. There is no problem finding a club in this case – the problem is sorting out which club it is.”

Vaughan is also expected to make a decision on his future at the start of next month. The 28-year-old has been offered a new deal with Blackpool, but is unlikely to remain with the Seasiders following their relegation.

Sunderland have discussed personal terms with the Welshman, but Everton are also understood to have expressed an interest.

* Sunderland will play three pre-season fixtures in Germany this July.

The Black Cats play 3rd Liga outfit Arminia Bielefeld at 3pm on Sunday, July 17 at the 27,000-capacity Schacho Arena in Bielefeld to face a side just recently relegated from Germany’s second tier.

Sunderland face Hannover 96 at 7pm on Wednesday, July 20, at the Weserberglandstadion in Hamelin.

Hannover, whose squad includes former Premier League players Emanuel Pogatetz, DaMarcus Beasley and Mikael Forssell.

Sunderland complete their visit to Germany with a game against Borussia Monchengladbach at the Borussia-Park at 3pm on Saturday, July 23.