Sunderland mamager Roy Keane has stepped up his attempt to land £6million-rated Preston striker David Nugent.

It is understood the Black Cats this morning tabled an undisclosed cash offer for the 22-year-old after failing to make progress with an earlier cash-plus-player proposal.

Neither club were commenting on the matter amid reports that Nugent has told friends he has opted for a move to the Stadium of Light.

The frontman, currently on international duty with England Under-21s in Holland, is keen to resolve his future after North End's failure to secure promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship last season made his departure almost inevitable.

Liverpool-born Nugent has been repeatedly linked with Everton, the club he supported as a boy, and a series of other potential suitors. The Toffees are yet to make a move, and it remains to be seen whether Sunderland's bid will prove decisive, or serve to smoke out other would-be purchasers.

Black Cats boss Keane has been coy over his transfer targets so far this summer — news of his move for Reading full-back Greg Halford earlier this week emerged only hours before it was completed — although he and chairman Niall
Quinn have been working tirelessly behind the scenes.

Preston, who will have to pass on a significant proportion of any fee they receive for Nugent to his former club Bury under a sell-on clause negotiated as part of the deal which took him to Deepdale in January 2005, have been equally reticent, although chairman Derek Shaw had earlier played down the Sunderland link.