There could be a free-for-all this summer to try and land free agent forward Tom Barkhuizen, with Rotherham, Derby and Bolton all still keen to sign the player - but one team not interested in him is Sunderland, as reported by The Sun journalist Alan Nixon.

The winger, who currently plays for Preston, has struggled to get action with the Lilywhites this season thanks to injuries and it has meant he has been limited to just 10 Championship starts.

With his contract also up in the summer, new boss Ryan Lowe has decided not to offer him fresh terms and it means that he will leave Deepdale when that current deal comes to an end.

That has put three sides on high alert, with Rotherham, Bolton and Derby all linked with the player and all seemingly having an interest in taking him to League One for the next campaign.

However, one side that isn't actively looking to bring the player in is Sunderland, according to Alan Nixon. The Black Cats are currently managed by Alex Neil, who formerly held the reins at Preston. While at Deepdale, the boss utilised Barkhuizen often and it was believed that a reunion between the two could be on the cards at the Stadium of Light.

However, those claims have today been rubbished and it appears as though Sunderland are not looking to bring the forward into the club.

It means that the door is open for one of Derby, Rotherham or Bolton to try and swoop in and sign him, with all three credited as having interest in the player over the last few weeks. The player then could have his pick of potential landing spots when his contract does come to an end.

The Verdict

Tom Barkhuizen has, over the course of the last few seasons, proven to be a handful in terms of his pace, dribbling and finishing ability in the Championship and were it not for injuries, he might even have stayed on at Preston beyond this campaign.

As it stands though, the player has been unable to break into the first-team and because of his positioning - he can play as a striker but thrives as a winger - it means there isn't much room for him in Ryan Lowe's system. Now, a club in the Football League or elsewhere could get a real bargain in signing up the player on a free transfer.

If his next side can get Barkhuizen match fit, then they will have a real asset on their hands. With just over 50 goal contributions to his name during his time in the second tier, he can be a real boost to most attacks in the EFL and it certainly is a surprise that Alex Neil isn't considering another move for him.

The player worked well for Neil at Preston and considering his level of experience in the Championship, that also could have been a welcome boost to the newly-promoted side. The Black Cat's loss is another side's gain though and if he ends up in League One with any of the three teams mentioned, then he could prove to be a really good signing.