TARGET ... Jermaine Pennant
New Black Cats boss Bruce took Pennant from Arsenal in
2005 when he was in charge at Birmingham and has made several
attempts to sign him since.
Pennant was on loan at Portsmouth from Liverpool and
has been touted for a switch to Real Madrid, with Atletico also
monitoring his situation.
But Pennant, 26, is reluctant to move abroad - no
matter how big the club. And Sunderland look certain to
benefit.
Bruce is willing to pay him around £65,000 a week with
the offer of a three-year contract already on the table.
But Bruce has been told by Wigan chairman Dave Whelan
to forget about signing England Under-21 midfielder Lee
Cattermole.
He said: "Lee is not going anywhere. You can't replace
these kinds of players."
The Latics have strengthened their midfield options by
bringing in Spanish ace Jordi Gomez for £1.8million.
The Espanyol star, 24, is well known to boss Roberto
Martinez as he had him for a year-long loan spell at Swansea last
season. He scored 14 goals in 51 games.