Sunderland have had a £7m offer for the Sevilla midfielder Vicente Iborra accepted and remain keen on also signing Yann M’Vila from Rubin Kazan.

Although Iborra is believed to be enthusiastic about relocating to the Stadium of Light, there is interest from other clubs and any deal seems unlikely to be finalised until after the weekend.

A Europa League winner for the past three seasons, the versatile 28-year-old regarded in some quarters as a “superior Marouane Fellaini” not only caught David Moyes’s eye during the Sunderland manager’s time in charge of Real Sociedad but was wanted by Sam Allardyce before he swapped Wearside for the England job.

M’Vila impressed on loan at Sunderland last season and there are only four months remaining on the former France midfielder’s contract in Russia but much depends on whether Rubin Kazan reduce a seemingly steep asking price.

“It’s a complicated situation but we keep trying,” said Moyes, whose already slender squad has been ravaged by a rash of injuries. “We’ve got one or two offers in for players right now and we’re actively trying to improve the squad.”

With an elbow ligament injury sidelining Vito Mannone – who may yet need surgery – for a minimum of three months, Moyes requires an extra goalkeeper. While it is unclear whether he will be bought to understudy the highly rated 22-year-old England Under-21 keeper Jordan Pickford or go straight into the first team, Sunderland’s manager has not ruled out a potential loan move for for Manchester City’s newly ousted former no1, Joe Hart.

A compromise would almost certainly need to be reached with City over the England goalkeeper’s £125,000 weekly wage but Moyes – who admits Pickford could easily have started the season ahead of Mannone – appears open to the possibility.

“I’ll need to wait and see what’s available in the next few days,” said a manager keen to add the widely coveted young Barnsley defender Alfie Mawson to his squad while also actively seeking an attacking partner for Jermain Defoe. “I’ve given Jordan the jersey for now and we’ll see how things go from here.”

Pickford will be in goal at Southampton on Saturday when Moyes hopes to collect his first point – or points – since succeeding Allardyce. “It was very tight between Jordan and Vito at the start of the season,” he said. “Vito, with his experience, got the jersey but Jordan’s well liked here and we’re looking forward to having him in the team. And I do believe if you get young English players in your side, it draws a lot of attention to your football club as it’s something the media and the public want to see.”

There is, though, a caveat which could yet open the door for Hart. “We’ll see how Jordan does in the games,” said Moyes. “It’s a big step up from where he’s been and it’s not easy for young goalkeepers. I’m confident that he’ll be fine and he’ll get a chance – but the Premier League is a different animal.”

Lamine Koné,, meanwhile, still anxious to join Everton, could return to central defence for Moyes’s team following his return to light training after a back complaint. “I’ll have to assess Lamine but, if he’s fit, he’ll play,” said Sunderland’s manager who remains adamant he will not accept the Merseysiders’ £18m bid. “I need him.”