Sunderland have made a £10 million bid for Ipswich Town striker Connor Wickham.
The Daily Mail says it is doomed to failure with the Tractor Boys demanding £12million - and the youngster prepared to hold out for a more glamorous move.
Black Cats' boss Steve Bruce has made 18-year-old Wickham his No 1 summer signing target.
His is the first official bid in the race to snap up the England Under 21 international and it is set to spark a four-club auction for the youngster.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham are also keen on the powerfully built striker who became Ipswich's youngest-ever player when he made his senior debut in April 2009, aged just 16 years and 11 days.
