Everton was the other English club to show strong interest in the Albania international this summer before Steve Bruce moved to secure Cana.

He has quickly established himself as a cult figure on Wearside, but Bruce may have a fight on his hands to keep him.

Arsenal tried to get Cana to London for a trial when he was 16, but he was unable to leave Switzerland as he was a refugee from troubles in Kosovo.

"My father took us out of Kosovo to Switzerland when the war was just starting," he said.

"When you are political refugees you cannot move. You cannot leave Switzerland or the country where you are."

Everton may also try again to prise Cana from Wearside, but Bruce will do everything to keep him.

The former Marseille skipper's steely midfield displays have helped Sunderland start the season brightly, with the Black Cats currently seventh in the Barclays Premier League going into Saturday's trip to Birmingham.