Sunderland have agreed a £5.5million fee for Manchester United's young defensive pair Paddy McNair and Donald Love.

David Moyes, the new Black Cats manager, has returned to his former employees in a bid to strengthen his defensive ranks.

Sportsmail understands United have reached an agreement with their fellow Premier League club to allow the two defenders to leave on a permanent basis.

Paddy McNair (left), the 21-year-old Manchester United defender, is set to join Sunderland

Donald Love, 21, is also wanted by the Black Cats, who have bid £5.5million for the pair

Moyes is on the lookout for new defenders with Lamine Kone the subject of an £18m bid from Everton.

The pair will undergo their medicals at Sunderland tomorrow, with the deal potentially rising to a combined £7m.

McNair, who played as a defensive midfielder for Northern Ireland at Euro 2016, and Love have only made 25 top-flight appearances between them.

But Moyes has pressed ahead with moves for the two 21-year-olds after reaching an agreement with his former employees.

Earlier this month, the former Everton manager confirmed Sunderland's interest in Manchester United duo Adnan Januzaj and Marouane Fellaini

Moyes is still looking to seal a loan move for Januzaj but that won't happen until at least next week because of other interest and what other loans Sunderland are looking at.

'If any of those good players want to join me I'd be happy to have them,' said Moyes, who gave Januzaj his full United debut at Sunderland in 2013 and the Belgian responded with a match-winning double.

David Moyes has returned to his former employees in bid to strengthen his defensive ranks

'They're excellent players. We're interested but I'm sure there's a load of other clubs that are as well.

'We're interested in lots of good players. You have to have a realistic view. There'll be some players we can attract just now and some players we can't.

'We'll try and get the ones we can and the ones who want to come here and start on the new journey we're on.'