Details of Sunderland scouting mission emerge as Aston Villa midfielder linked

No details have emerged about who they were watching. Teenage midfielder Scott Banks has been attracting interest from a host of clubs.

The Dundee Evening Telegraph report: "A string of scouts from the likes of Southampton and Sunderland were in the Tannadice stand on Saturday and there was one weekend report suggesting Crystal Palace are set to launch a £400,000 bid for teenager Scott Banks.”

Boss Robbie Neilson told the paper: “I would be surprised if there wasn’t an interest in quite a few of our boys, they’ve done very well. Even some of the ones in their mid-20s have done well.

“That’s what you want at your club, bigger teams to be interested and then we have a decision what we do with them.”

Meanwhile, Sunderland - who have a wealth of midfield options at their disposal - have been credited with an interest in Aston Villa midfielder Aaron Tshibola in a report in the DR Congo.

The midfielder has previously had a loan spell at Hartlepool United when they were in League Two, part of the famous Great Escape side.

The 24-year-old has also played for Kilmarnock, MK Dons and Nottingham Forest on loan following his big-money move to Villa from Reading.

Sunderland recently added George Dobson to their squad and are well-stocked in midfield.