Sunderland are hoping to land Scunthorpe United’s highly-rated prospect John McAtee this summer, according to reports.

The Black Cats CEO Jim Rodwell is keen to snap up the youngster following some eye-catching performances at the back end of last season.

The 20-year-old had to be patient in the early part of the 2019/20 campaign after not getting a lot of game time under Paul Hurst but some impressive displays in the U23s got him a chance in the first team, which he duly took.

The attacking midfielder is tall, has good vision and was linked with a host of clubs in January including Newcastle United, but it is fellow North-East outfit Sunderland who are hoping to sign the former Shrewsbury man, according to for ex-agent and scout James Goodwin.

McAtee scored the winners in games against both Cheltenham and Forest Green towards the end of last season for the Iron and also scored in the 2-2 draw with Bradford at Valley Parade.

He is seen as a player with a lot of potential and Jim Rodwell, who previously worked in a similar role at Scunthorpe United, is hoping to land the player this summer before rival suitors can get in on the act.

Sunderland missed out on the League One play-offs this year after the campaign was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they were within touching distance of the automatic promotion places at the time.

This will be a big summer for the Black Cats who are set to start their third straight season in League One, a division a club of their size is really shouldn’t be in.