Sunderland, relegated from the English Premiership, are rumoured to be looking to Shaun Goater to fire them back to the big time.

However, any move for the want-away Manchester City striker is dependant on the Black Cats offloading their own unsettled frontman Kevin Phillips.

Papers in the North-East of England have been rife with speculation about Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy's reported interest in the 33-year-old Bermudian.

And the transfer talk is bound to hot up after the City talisman plays his final game for the Blues at a sell-out Maine Road on Sunday.

Goater has told City manager Kevin Keegan he wants to quit the club after falling down the pecking order following the arrival of Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler. The pair have not yet formed Keegan's `dream' pairing and Goater believes if he cannot get into the first team when they are not hitting the back of the net, he stands absolutely no chance when they do.

There is bound to be no shortage of clubs interested in taking on the player, however, how many of them will be able to meet the anticipated ?1-million price tag is open to debate.

Sunderland's relegation and pay-offs to sacked boss' Peter Reid, Howard Wilkinson and Steve Cotterill have cost the club dear and McCarthy has been told me must wheel and deal before he can bring in any new blood.

But Phillips, the former England striker, has no intention of playing in Division One and is ready to leave behind his beloved Black Cats with North-East rivals Middlesbrough, London side Spurs and Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers said to be in a tug of war for his signature.

It is almost a certainty that the player, as well as some of his team-mates, will not be at the Stadium of Light come next season and that would pave the way "I've had a few calls about a few players - the ones you would expect, the so-called top players - so there is interest in them and I know that those players want to play in the Premier League," McCarthy told the Darlington-based newspaper yesterday. "Those callers have just been sounding things out at this stage - as I would expect - but it goes to show that people are interested in them.

"And I have tried to encourage clubs I've spoken to about our players to get the business done as quickly as possible, because otherwise we have to carry on paying the salaries for longer. And, of course, the longer that nobody leaves, the longer I can't bring anyone in.

"So if we can get deals done as early as possible then I can start signing new players."

Goater would seem a good fit for the no-nonsense Yorkshireman. As manager of the Republic of Ireland, McCarthy was a strong advocate of meat and potato players over the caviar and smoked salmon type.

The player's work ethic will appeal to him and his strike rate is second to none among those currently plying their trade in Division One.

Other clubs thought to be mulling over a swoop for Goater are Wolves, Sheffield United and Ipswich. Wolves and the Blades are involved in the First Division play-offs and so any moves are likely to take time to come to fruition, while the Tractor Boys are in administration and have little or no money to spend. However, their boss is Joe Royle, the man who took Goater to Manchester City from Bristol City in a ?400,000 deal in 1998.

One club definitely out of the running is Bolton Wanderers. The Trotters and West Ham are locked in a battle to avoid the drop from the Premiership and both go into the final game of the season on Sunday knowing only a win will do.

However, a spokesman for Wanderers, who are located a stone's throw away from Manchester City, told the yesterday: "It is totally untrue that we are about to sign Goater. We have no interest in the player whatsoever."

Don't miss Monday's for full coverage of Goater's big day in words and pictures.