Stewart Donald on Mo Eisa bid, Jack Marriott and Sunderland's transfer kitty

Sunderland submitted a bid of over £1million for the 24-year-old striker who the Black Cats have targeted to add firepower to their attack.

Sunderland also have bids in for Charlie Wyke and Reading midfielder George Evans as Donald admits he's getting 'itchy' as he tries to boost Jack Ross' resources ahead of the new season.

Donald admits he doesn't get involved in the day to day negotiations for players, leaving that to head of recruitment Tony Coton and Richard Hill, but speaking to Roker Report today, he said he hopes Cheltenham accept a 'fantastic' offer for the Sudan-born Eisa.

Asked about Sunderland's bid for Eisa, Donald said: "They (Cheltenham) have not come back to us but that bid is strong.

"I think we have chased them 20 times.

"As I understand it from the football feedback I'm getting, and I don't know if it's accurate and Cheltenham would have to confirm, but I think our bid is the strongest bid and the closest to their valuation. I think it's a fantastic bid for the player.

"I would hope Cheltenham would accept that and see that as a serious bid. It's a proper bid.

"It's over a million (pounds). I think that will be our biggest transfer. I see people saying we should be in for Jack Marriott but he's £6.5million apparently quoted and that's out of our ball park."

Peterborough striker Marriott is one of the most wanted strikers outside of the Championship, but Donald says despite their strong budget, the club have to cut their cloth accordingly.

He added: "I said we would have the biggest budget in the league by quite a way and it would be a budget that some teams in the Championship would love that and that's a fact. That's what we will have.

"I also said we would have a transfer kitty that by League One standards is a fantastic kitty and that's what we have got. But there's not many teams in League One spending £6million on a player."

On Wyke, Donald revealed Sunderland's bid hasn't been accepted by Bradford yet, but he remains confident of striking a deal. He added: "We have spoken to Bradford face to face and I think they have placed a valuation on the player that is reasonable."

Donald also revealed Sunderland are in negotiations over personal terms with Evans and that the two parties are 'not a million miles away'.