Sunderland manager David Moyes has confirmed that the club have lodged a bid for Sevilla midfielder Vicente Iborra.
There have been reports that the North-East outfit are in talks to seal a £7m deal for the Spaniard, who is contracted to Sevilla until 2020.
Iborra, who was linked with a move to West Bromwich Albion last year, has made 83 appearances for Sevilla, scoring 17 goals, since joining the club from Levante in 2013.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Vito Mannone has been ruled out for at least three months after suffering ligament damage in his elbow.