Liverpool set to offload Sebastian Coates as Sunderland show interest in signing defender

Liverpool are reportedly hoping to offload defender Sebastian Coates during the summer transfer window with Sunderland keen on signing the Uruguayan.

According to the Mirror, the South American, who spent the entire 2014/15 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light has impressed manager Dick Advocaat and he is keen to sign the defender on a permanent basis.

Coates was signed by Kenny Daglish in 2011 for a reported £4.9m ($7.6m) fee, but the defender failed to break into the first-team and has made just seven appearances for the Reds.

Brendan Rodgers does not consider the defender as part of his plans for next season and is ready to sell him to Sunderland for around £4m, boosting his transfer budget as the Merseyside club look to get back into the Champions League next season.

The Northern Irishman has already identified a replacement for the outgoing Uruguayan, and will make a move for Charlton Athletic youngster Joe Gomes, who is also a target for Arsenal.

The Reds have been one of the busiest clubs in the English top flight this summer, after releasing three players and signing as many with James Milner, Adam Bogdan and Danny Ings arriving at Anfield.

The former two have been signed on free transfers from Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers respectively, while the latter, even though he is out of contract at Burnley, the Clarets are entitled to a compensation fee, which is yet to be agreed by the two clubs.

Coates made 13 appearances on loan for Sunderland last season, and the report claims that the defender's performances in the last six games, which saw the Black Cats beat the drop, impressed Advocaat, who is keen on keeping the Uruguayan for his first full season in-charge of the Premier League club.

Moreover, Coates, who is currently with his national team at the Copa America in Chile, has indicated that he is willing to swap Merseyside for Wearside in the summer.

"Yes, it's something I'd consider if it became a possibility," Coates said, as quoted by the Sunderland Echo.