The 26-year-old's future at the Stadium of Light has been cast into doubt in recent weeks following the Black Cats' busy activity in the transfer market.
The possibility of Gardner being surplus to requirement has now alerted other teams in the top flight, according to Sky Sports News.
Gardner joined Sunderland from Birmingham City in 2011.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Leeds UnitedLeeds | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 28 | 12 | 16 | 32 |
| 2 | Sunderland | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 26 | 12 | 14 | 32 |
| 3 | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 32 |
| 4 | Burnley | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 30 |
| 5 | Middlesbrough | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 19 | 10 | 27 |
| 6 | West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom | 16 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 26 |
| 7 | Watford | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 26 |
| 8 | Millwall | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 24 |
| 9 | Blackburn RoversBlackburn | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 22 |
| 10 | Bristol City | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 22 |
| 11 | Derby CountyDerby | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 12 | Stoke CityStoke | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 20 | -1 | 20 |
| 13 | Norwich CityNorwich | 16 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 19 |
| 14 | Swansea CitySwansea | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 19 |
| 15 | Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 26 | -8 | 19 |
| 16 | Luton TownLuton | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 26 | -8 | 18 |
| 17 | Coventry CityCoventry | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 23 | -1 | 17 |
| 18 | Oxford UnitedOxford Utd | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 24 | -5 | 17 |
| 19 | Plymouth ArgylePlymouth | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 28 | -11 | 17 |
| 20 | Preston North EndPreston | 16 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 24 | -8 | 16 |
| 21 | Cardiff CityCardiff | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 24 | -9 | 16 |
| 22 | Hull City | 16 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 21 | -5 | 15 |
| 23 | Portsmouth | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 28 | -12 | 12 |
| 24 | Queens Park RangersQPR | 16 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 26 | -13 | 11 |
| > Championship Full Table | |||||||||
