What the papers say: Two groups battle to buy Sunderland; Larsson to Brighton & Moyes to Preston

Cut-price sale figure and cut-price budget for new boss

According to The Sun, Sunderland owner Ellis Short will accept a knock-down £85m for the club and has set an end-of-June deadline for the two consortia interested in buying it.

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The report penned by north east correspondent Alan Nixon also claims the new manager will receive just £15m to rebuild the Black Cats' squad this summer. And if the German-led group at the forefront of the bidding are successful, that figure will be less.

There is a suggestion that David Moyes had demanded £50m to spend in a bid to get Sunderland promoted and that Derek McInnes had wanted £20m.

But it's the claim that a second bidder - a US-based group - are also battling to buy the club that is of intrigue. No details are forthcoming naturally.

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Preston will move for Moyes

The Daily Mail have this morning speculated Preston North End will launch a 'bold move' to reappoint David Moyes at the club he left fifteen years ago.

That's if Sunderland appoint present Lilywhites' boss Simon Grayson to the vacant position at the Stadium of Light.

The paper claims Preston have already drawn up contingency plans should their 47-year-old manager be lured to Wearside that include speaking with Moyes.

With the former Black Cats boss unlikely to be afforded another Premier League job with his reputation in tatters following failures at Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland, the Championship seems his best bet at rehabilitating a damaged image. A return to Deepdale might just give Moyes that opportunity.

Sunderland v Preston with Moyes in the opposition dugout, now that would be an intriguing fixture to look out for next season.

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Larsson to Brighton

The Mirror claim newly-promoted Brighton are interested in Sunderland's soon-to-be out of contract midfielder Sebastian Larsson.

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The report claims the Black Cats have offered the 32-year-old a new deal at the Stadium of Light but on 'vastly reduced terms'.

Larsson signed a contract extension in 2016 and negotiated a decent pay rise to maintain his position as one of the highest earners on Wearside.

The veteran of over 200 games for Sunderland spoke last week of considering assorted offers once he had completed Sweden's recent round of international fixtures.

His agent has previously suggested Larsson has offers from China and Europe and the Swede has been linked with Turkish side Trabzonspor. But with the player hinting he's keen to stay in England, Brighton's offer may prove suitably tempting.

Larsson will likely consider that he has another year or two of Premier League football left in him as he aims to ensure he is selected for the World Cup next year with Sweden.

But his showings in a Sunderland shirt last season would lead most on Wearside to conclude that the top flight is now beyond his slowing legs. That said, on a free he might just do a job for a freshly promoted side.

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Bargain Kone

Back to The Sun and claims Sunderland will accept a cut-price £7m for Lamine Kone this summer.

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The Ivorian signed a lucrative new deal at the Stadium of Light last summer when David Moyes blocked an £18m move to Everton.

Kone rewarded that confidence in his ability with a desperately poor campaign - with the net result being a sixty-percent drop in value. Accusations that the former Lorient man refused to play on occasions under David Moyes have hardly enhanced his reputation.

But, with Jordan Pickford now gone and Jermain Defoe's move to Bournemouth set to be rubber-stamped any day, the 28-year-year old defender may well be next out of the door.