Sunderland have made Bobby Zamora their primary target in the January transfer window as Martin O'Neill seeks to bolster his side's firepower.
The Fulham striker is expected to leave Craven Cottage with manager Martin Jol aiming to prise Maxi Lopez from Catania.
And O'Neill is ready to move for Zamora as he seeks to continue his Sunderland revolution.
The move hinges on Fulham's willingness to pay a fee for Lopez having initially made a loan offer to his Serie A club.
But Catania are demanding a fee of around £10million with AC Milan waiting in the wings should the deal flounder.
Catania director Pietro Lo Monaco has revealed: 'We are carrying on discussions with Fulham.'
Blackburn and Queens Park Rangers are also interested in Zamora and had bids rejected last week.