Derby County are one of a number of clubs to have been linked with Marcus Maddison.
The Peterborough United playmaker was linked with a move to Derby earlier this summer, with his team-mate at Posh, Jack Marriott, joining the Rams last month.
Derby are said to be vying with Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Wigan Athletic and Preston North End for the 24-year-old ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline, according to TEAMtalk.
Maddison has scored 44 goals and provided 61 assists in 177 games for Peterborough since joining from Gateshead in 2014.
Sunderland could be forced to look to the loan market with a number of players missing for Saturday's 2-1 opening-day win over Charlton Athletic.
The Black Cats were missing the likes of Tom Flanagan, signed from Burton Albion in the summer, and Jerome Sinclair, who sat out through a hamstring injury.
Boss Jack Ross admits loan signings could be necessary with the market for permanent signings closing this Thursday.
“The loan window does give you the extra option," he told the Sunderland Echo . It’s nice to know when we get beyond the window that we have that bit of extra time to try to do a few things.
