Sunderland may be prioritising incoming transfers, but that won't stop other clubs from sniffing around their players.

The Black Cats have a number of their squad in the final six months of their contracts, meaning that they'll be able to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season if a new deal isn't agreed.

One man who fits into that category is Tom Flanagan.

According to Football Insider, the Northern Ireland international is attracting significant interest from a number of clubs in the Championship.

Sunderland are reluctant to lose the 27-year-old but may not be able to resist if someone comes in with a cash offer for a player who they risk losing for nothing.

Flanagan has made just 13 appearances for the Black Cats so far this term with Jordan Willis and Alim Ozturk being the preferred partnership in defence.

The verdict

While Sunderland won't want to lose Tom Flanagan, they may not have much of a choice.

With less than six months remaining on his contract the club risk losing him for nothing in the summer, meaning that if an offer was to come in January they could be tempted to accept.

Whether they'll want to lose him for the rest of the season, however, remains to be seen.