Sunderland are chasing Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster.

The People says United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is reluctant to let Foster leave Old Trafford to get first-team experience ahead of next summer's World Cup finals and will ask for a bumper 'rental' payment on top of Foster's wages to make the whole package to around £2million for half-a-season.

Black Cats boss Steve Bruce was set to ask old mate Ferguson if he can have the 26-year-old on loan after his own No.1 Craig Gordon suffered a broken arm at Tottenham a fortnight ago - which will keep him out for the next three month.

Ironically, Ferguson has already banked a small fortune for Foster from his two spells at Watford and if he gets a loan fee for the keeper this time it will have paid for buying him in the first place.