Sunderland are fighting to keep hold of teenage prospect Francis Okoronkwo.
The Daily Mail says Sunderland invited schoolboy Francis Okoronkwo to Wembley for their EFL Trophy Final in a bid to fend off Premier League interest.
The Black Cats are aware of top-flight clubs circling around their Under-16 striker and the new regime are determined not to lose him.
Sunderland, now under the ownership of Swiss trust-fund billionaire Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, want to build the club around emerging talent such as Okoronkwo.
New sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is keen to learn from the mistakes of the previous owners, who sold a host of gifted youngsters, including striker Joe Hugill, the 17-year-old who is now winning rave reviews at Manchester United.
