Jordi Gomez

Gomez is one of several out-of-favour players that Sam Allardyce needs to offload this summer after the Spaniard spent the second half of last season on loan at Blackburn.

Championship new boys Wigan have held talks over signing their former favourite, with only a year remaining on his Sunderland contract and no prospect of a future with the Black Cats.

But the difficulty for the Latics will be whether they can agree personal terms with Gomez, with Sunderland not expected to demand a significant transfer fee for the 31-year-old.

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Gomez is not the only unwanted Sunderland player attracting attention, with defender Santiago Vergini an option for Argentine giants Boca Juniors.

Vergini is due to return to Sunderland next month after a permanent switch to Getafe - where he spent last season on loan - collapsed following their relegation from Spain's La Liga.

Read the full story on Vergini here.

Meanwhile, Sunderland will face Manchester City on the opening day of the season after the Premier League fixtures were released today.

Sunderland begin their campaign at the Etihad against new City manager Pep Guardiola, before hosting local rivals Middlesbrough in the first Stadium of Light encounter.