According to reports from The Daily Record, Sunderland have made an offer to Aston Villa centre-back Joleon Lescott, who is available on a free transfer.

The former England international was one of David Moyes' most successful signings during his lengthy spell as Everton manager, making a £17million profit on a defender he originally purchased for just £5million.

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Lescott went on to win two Premier League titles with Manchester City but now finds himself a controversial figure at Aston Villa after playing a prominent role in their relegation last season and infamously 'pocket-tweeting' pictures of sports cars after a 6-0 defeat to Liverpool.

The 34-year-old will be allowed to leave Villa Park on a free transfer this summer and is attracting interest from Rangers. In fact, the Scottish club's manager Mark Warburton has even flown to England to hold talks with Lescott - largely because of a rival offer from Sunderland.

The Daily Record quotes an insider as saying; "Warburton is well aware of the interest from Sunderland which is why he was so keen to travel south to have a proper conversation with Joleon, man to man.

"It’s obviously difficult for a club with Rangers’ resources to be competing for players against English Premier League clubs but sometimes the little things make a big difference. Clearly, Warburton wants to show Lescott how highly he is valued and how important he would be to the Rangers side,"

The Black Cats have already signed three defenders this summer - Papy Djilbodji, Donald Love and Paddy McNair - but could be about to lose one of last season's key centre-backs in reported Watford target Younes Kaboul.

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