The former Cork City star joined The Black Cats after Roy Keane spotted and talked to the striker while on a pre-season tour in Ireland last summer.

And despite making 17 Premier League appearances, Cork's Evening Echo is reporting that Keane is keen to have O'Donovan get some additional first team football under his belt elsewhere for the coming season as he prepares to splash up to £50 million strengthening his squad.

"Roy is a player that I nearly signed a while ago," United's Craig Levein said, "but I couldn't because of Fifa's three-club rule."

However, it is thought that Mick McCarthy's Wolves, who watched O'Donovan last year, and Norwich City are also interested in taking the front man on a temporary basis.