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Sunderland are weighing up an improved, £7 million offer for Stewart Downing, The Chronicle understands.

However, sources in London suggest the 30-year-old looks likely to stay at West Ham United - despite their move for Olympique Marseille winger Dimitri Payet.

Reports claimed the Black Cats had had a £5 million bid for Downing rejected by the Hammers.

Dick Advocaat and sporting director Lee Congerton are determined to overhaul a squad which avoided relegation from the Premier League only in the final week of last season.

Middlesbrough-born Downing started his career at his hometown club but came to prominence at the Riverside only after a seven-game loan spell on Wearside in 2003, when he scored three goals.

Following stints at Aston Villa and Liverpool, he joined West Ham in a £5 million deal in August 2013 and has two years left on his current contract.

Yet despite Downing producing some of the best performances of his career last term, particularly when deployed as a No 10, new Hammers manager Slaven Bilic is understood to be keen to cash in on the England international - but only at the right price.

That could tempt an improved offer from Sunderland, especially as West Ham seem increasingly confident of luring Payet to the Boleyn Ground in a £15 million switch from cash-strapped Marseille.

Jack Sullivan, the son of co-chairman David Sullivan, said: “We hope to announce a very large eight-figure deal within five days.”

A deal for the 28-year-old - who has 14 senior caps for France - does appear imminent.

Whether Payet’s arrival sparks Downing’s departure, however, remains to be seen, London sources indicating a willingness on the player’s part to stay and fight for his place.

Meanwhile, the agent of Georginio Wijnaldum has explained Sunderland’s pursuit of the PSV Eindhoven midfielder cooled due to the absence of a buy-out clause in the player’s contract.

Reports had claimed the Wearside outfit were offering £11 million for the Dutchman, who has also been linked with Newcastle United, Southampton, West Ham and Zenit St Petersburg.

However, the 24-year-old’s agent Humphrey Nijman has said Sunderland’s interest extended only to an enquiry about Wijnaldum’s availability.