Sunderland boss Paolo di Canio is eyeing Inter Milan midfielder Joel Obi.

The Nigeria international is a favourite of Premier League managers and has been linked with Everton and Tottenham in the past.

The Journal says he is understood to have also been on the Black Cats' radar in the past, and the club's new Italian-orientated set-up - with director of football Roberto De Fanti and technical director Valentino Angeloni advising Di Canio - could be behind a revival of interest in Obi, particularly as Angeloni was previously Inter's chief scout.