Sunderland have faced a flurry of interest in their key players in recent days.
Lazio look likely to reignite their interest in Jobe Bellingham, despite reports claiming that he is set to commit himself to Sunderland for at least an extra season.
Meanwhile, the Black Cats have rejected a £7 million bid for Trai Hume from Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Fabrizio Romano has now also reported that Serie A club Udinese have made an offer to sign Pierre Ekwah and is already in talks with the Frenchman over a move.
Sunderland snapped up Ekwah for free last year but have since paid unknown amounts of cash due to various clauses.
The midfielder has since racked up 60 appearances for the Black Cats and was ‘amazing’ at the start of his spell on Wearside, but his form dipped off massively last season.
Sunderland’s transfer business could determine whether the 22-year-old is sold this summer, but they are in a very good position and are under no pressure to sell.
Ekwah has three years left on his contract, so the Wearside outfit will be hoping to at least make a decent fee from his potential exit.
West Ham to receive huge sell-on clause from Ekwah sale
Sunderland will have to demand even more if they want to make their ideal profit, with West Ham also earning a huge sell-on clause if he leaves the Stadium of Light.
According to accountant and writer Christopher Weatherspoon, the Irons are due a whopping 35% of the profit Sunderland make on any sale of Ekwah.
Transfermarkt believes the midfielder is currently worth only £2.4m, which would see West Ham rake in around £840,000 of that.
How likely is the midfielder to leave Sunderland?
Sunderland will surely look to earn over £5m if they are to sell him and he seems like the one player that the club would be most willing to part ways with.
Kyril Louis Dreyfus has already snapped up Alan Browne to bolster the midfield, and if they are to sign a more defensive-minded player then that could force Ekwah out of the starting line-up.
The Frenchman may end up favouring a move to Italy, though will want to avoid any kind of relegation scrap after Udinese finished two points above the bottom three last season.
It’s a tricky decision for both Sunderland and Ekwah, but if Udinese are prepared to up their bid then it seems very likely that he could be on his way out.