Manchester United defender Donald Love poised for Sunderland after rejecting Preston

Manchester United defender Donald Love rejected the chance to join Preston North End after receiving an offer from a Premier League club – thought to be Sunderland.

Love, who made his Premier League debut last season under Louis van Gaal, does not figure in Jose Mourinho's plans at Old Trafford this season and is expected to complete his move away from the club in the coming days. The Daily Mail claimed on Monday (9 August) the 21-year-old is now poised to join Sunderland, along with United teammate Paddy McNair as part of David Moyes' recruitment drive on Wearside.

Preston boss Simon Grayson however was also keen on signing the United academy product, but admits their hopes were ended as soon as a Premier League club entered the equation.

"We had a bid accepted by a club on Monday but unfortunately the player is going somewhere else – he is joining a Premier League club," Grayson told the Lancashire Post.

"We were in the market for the player [Love] and had a figure agreed with his club but someone else has taken him off our toes in the division above. It shows the level of what we are out there looking at."

According to the Daily Mail, Sunderland will pay a fee of £5.5m for both McNair and Love. Love made his United debut against the Black Cats last season amid an injury crisis among the club's full-back options.

Northern Ireland international McNair has made 24 appearances for the club since making his senior debut against West Ham in September 2014 under van Gaal. The 21-year-old featured at centre half, right-back and a deep-lying midfield role during that time but is likely to be deemed surplus to requirements by Mourinho.