We understand both clubs have been given permission to speak to the 33-year-old Aston Villa striker, who played alongside Black Cats chairman and manager Niall Quinn during a hugely successful spell at the Stadium of Light. Quinn confirmed last week that his bid for Phillips was one of five he has tabled in an effort to strengthen his squad after his consortium's successful buy-out. Sunderland have endured a dreadful start to the Coca-Cola Championship season, slumping to four successive defeats which have left them rooted to the foot of the table. Quinn warned after Saturday's 3-1 reverse at Southend that radical changes would be made and admitted some of the current players are simply not good enough for a successful fight for promotion. He better than anyone knows Phillips' quality, having partnered him in attack during the most successful spell in the club's recent history. Phillips scored a hugely-impressive 130 goals in 235 appearances for the Black Cats, including 30 in his first Barclays Premiership campaign, a feat which saw him elevated to the senior England squad. The former Baldock Town player arrived on Wearside from Watford for a bargain £325,000 in July 1997 and helped Peter Reid's side win a return to the top flight. His goals were a major factor in successive top-seven finishes, but Reid's sacking and Quinn's retirement through injury saw his influence wane. He eventually joined Southampton for £3.25million in August 2003 following the debt-ridden club's ignominious relegation, and made his move to Villa after suffering the drop once again.
