Fulham will make another move for Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley having missed on signing the full back during a dramatic transfer deadline day.
The Whites will face competition from the Black Cats who are set to another the former Manchester United man a new deal following a remarkable turnaround at the Stadium of Light.
Bardsley’s Sunderland career appeared over under previous manager Paolo Di Canio, but the arrival of Gus Poyet has given him regular first-team football again. Poyet considers him so important to his plans that he personally vetoed a potential £1.5m move to fellow strugglers Fulham, who are lining up a rival contract offer when his current deal expires in June.
Sunderland have started formal talks with Bardsley and his representatives as they want to keep him at the club and Poyet is also keen to hold onto midfielder Jack Colback, who turned down a previous offer.
