Dundee United manager Craig Levein is considering a fresh attempt to bring Sunderland striker Roy O'Donovan to Tannadice.

Levein is a big admirer of the Irishman and tried to sign him during the January transfer window only to be thwarted by FIFA regulations because O'Donovan had already featured for Cork and Sunderland last season.

O'Donovan struggled to hold down a place in Roy Keane's plans last season making just four starts and Keane is thought to be considering loaning out the 22-year-old.

A number of Championship clubs are thought to be trailing O'Donovan and Levein admits it would be a struggle to land the player.

"Roy is a player that I nearly signed a while ago, but couldn't because of Fifa's three-club rule," Levein told the Sunderland Echo.

"We are interested, but at the moment I would say it is something of a long shot."

More Football News from TEAMtalk