The midfielder is a free agent and finds himself in demand from not only his current manager, Gus Poyet, but also Newcastle United and Swansea City.
Sam Allardyce, though, is prepared to offer Colback a four-year contract worth around £50,000 a week – a sum his rivals will not compete with and which would quadruple the 24-year-old’s current deal.
Sunderland are fighting hard to keep the boyhood Newcastle fan – who is frightened to goto St James’ Park for fear his Mackem roots could upset the Toon Army.