Rumour: Sunderland rival Arsenal in bid for Swansea City’s Ashley Williams

Ashley Williams of Swansea City applauds the fans after winning the Capital One Cup Final on February 24, 2013

Sunderland are preparing to make a £4 million bid for Ashley Williams this summer, in a hope that they can tempt the Swansea City skipper to the Stadium of Light as opposed to Arsenal.

Arsenal are believed to be reviving their interest in Williams from last summer having hoped that £3 million would be enough to prompt the Swans into a sale, with just one year left to run on the Welsh defender’s contract and no indication from the player that he wishes to sign an extension.

The Guardian however believe that Sunderland are now at the front of the queue as Swansea are contemplating entertaining offers for their captain in order to get some return on him, and a £4m bid could prove enough to allow the Wales international to become Gus Poyet’s third signing of the summer.

Poyet has already managed to recruit both Billy Jones and Jordi Gomez to the north-east this summer as he has looked to make his moves early on in the close season, with plenty of ins and outs expected at Sunderland this season.

Defence is one position Poyet believes he requires leaders in and despite Sunderland’s brush with relegation last season, there is a sense that the Black Cats have a sturdy platform on which to grow, with the Uruguayan coach hopeful he can get Williams to join his project for the next campaign, ahead of what is expected to be heavy interest if Swansea decide to sell.