SPL side ready to offer Sunderland midfielder a three-year contract

Smith was one of four members of Sunderland’s Under-21 squad who were told that they had no future at the Stadium of Light, with Mikael Mandron, Liam Agnew and Dylan McEvoy also axed ahead of their deals expiring at the end of the season.

Box-to-box midfielder Smith spent the final months of the campaign on loan at Carlisle United, but the League Two outfit opted against offering him a permanent contract.

But it is understood that Scottish side Kilmarnock are ready to sign the 20-year-old on a free transfer, with a three-year contract being proposed.

Former Black Cats midfielder Clark took over at Kilmarnock last February and successfuly kept them in the SPL last season, but he wants to bring in 11 new players this summer.

Meanwhile, reports north of the border have suggested that Sunderland could face Dundee United in a pre-season friendly at the end of June.

Sunderland confirmed last week that Sam Allardyce’s men will head to Austria for a pre-season training camp, before facing warm-up games against Hartlepool, Rotherham and potential French opposition.

But a trip to Tannadice to face Dundee Utd could also be sandwiched into that programme.