Swansea City are keen on bringing in Sunderland defender Tom Flanagan, with the defender impressing with the League One high-flyers.

The 26-year-old, a Northern Ireland international, has been a regular in Jack Ross' side over the past few months and has played a crucial role in their impressive form.

And, that has not gone unnoticed, with HITC Sport reporting that Graham Potter is lining up a January move for the versatile player.

Even though he can play in various defensive roles, Flanagan has impressed at centre-back for the Black Cats, forming a strong partnership with Jack Baldwin.

The former Burton Albion man only joined the Wearside outfit in the summer, signing a two-year deal.

That could be a potential problem for Sunderland as the player approaches the final 18 months of his deal in January.

The north east side are currently second in League One and Ross will hope that he can convince the player to stay as they look to make an immediate return to the Championship.

They face Accrington Stanley in their next third-tier fixture this weekend.

The Verdict

It's imperative that Sunderland keep hold of their important players in January and Flanagan certainly falls into that category.

Swansea's interest is understandable but Ross needs to keep the defender if he is to push for promotion this season.

And, they should also look to sign him up on a new, longer deal, even though he only joined in the summer.

Thoughts, Sunderland and Swansea fans? Let us know in the comments below.

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