Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is chasing Newcastle United defender Sebastien Bassong.

The Evening Chronicle says Bruce is a big fan of Newcastle's star defender Bassong, who was the pick of the United defence - and arguably their team - last season.

Bassong is set to leave St James's Park this summer in the wake of the Magpies' relegation, and Bruce has joined the queue of Premier League clubs who are tracking the 23-year-old Frenchman.

Bruce had also been linked with a raid on his former club Wigan for ex-Newcastle defender Titus Bramble to bolster the Sunderland defence, but Bassong is his preferred target.