Sunderland misfit Modibo Diakite has choice of 10 clubs and Boro linked with Danny Graham

Diakite is surplus to requirements at the Stadium of Light after spending the second half of last season on loan at Fiorentina before not even being handed a squad number when he returned to Sunderland this summer.

Fiorentina, along with fellow Italian sides Palermo, Sampdoria and Inter Milan, have all been linked with Diakite, who still has another two years to run on the contract he penned when he arrived at Sunderland on a Bosman deal last summer.

But Poyet claims there are a total of 10 sides interested in the former Lazio man and it is just a question of the centre-half deciding between them.

Poyet told SportMail: “Diakite has got 10 options.

“The problem is managing them because he has got his priorities as well.”

If Sunderland can offload Diakite – and there has been speculation about the club reaching a settlement on his contract – then it will be another step in the Black Cats’ bid to sell the deadwood after David Moberg Karlsson and Alfred N’Diaye have already departed.

Sunderland are also hoping to move on midfielder Cabral and striker Danny Graham before Monday’s transfer deadline – with Graham again being linked with a return to former club Middlesbrough.

As SportMail reported last week, Cabral is keen to remain in England by joining a Championship club, although there has been interest from Russia in the 25-year-old.

And despite being handed a squad number and taking a place on the bench in Sunderland’s opening day draw at West Brom, Graham is also expected to depart.

Graham’s agent held talks with newly-promoted Championship side Wolves over the weekend, while his former clubs Middlesbrough and Watford have also made inquiries.

“I think we’re getting close (to moving them on) because of the transfer window,” said Poyet.

“I have to give them credit.

“We were very close to finding a solution for them (Diakite and Cabral) before we went to Portugal for pre-season – and Danny as well.

“That was why they didn’t travel.

“It was not like ‘off you go’.

“Then it didn’t happen and when we came back, it was daily.

“Last week, someone said Cabral was travelling to Russia and the next day he was here and the day after he was playing for the Under 21s.

“I’m surprised and thinking ‘what happened?’ so you can imagine what it’s like for them.

“But if you train well with me and the quality of training is up there, I’ve got no problem.”

– CHRIS YOUNG