Roy Keane is preparing to use a chunk of his £50m summer transfer budget to try to take Stephen Ireland from Manchester City to Sunderland.
With the Blues in turmoil as the uncertainty surrounding Sven-Goran Eriksson's position continues, Ireland is one of a host of stars wondering if their future lies elsewhere.
The Irish consortium backing Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has promised Keane the cash to ensure they avoid another relegation scrap next season.
And Keane has made no secret of his admiration for Ireland, who scored a spectacular volleyed winner when City beat Sunderland in the Premier League last November.
Ireland - who would cost around £8m - is also a fan of Keane and had posters of the former United captain on his bedroom wall when he was growing up in Cork.
The full article contains 138 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
