Cats face battle to sign winger.

Byline: By James Hunter

The Black Cats will face strong competition from Leeds United in the race to sign Mansfield youngster Liam Lawrence.

However, the Tykes financial problems mean Sunderland are still in a strong position.

Mick McCarthy is keen on the 22-year-old Stags winger, who played against Sunderland in the Carling Cup last August, and was hoping to lure him to the Stadium of Light.

But the Wearside boss will want to be sure Lawrence has fully recovered from an end-of-season cartilage operation before committing to sign the player.

Leeds have now entered the equation with Elland Road boss Kevin Blackwell switching his sights to Lawrence after Torquay striker David Graham chose Wigan over the Yorkshiremen earlier this week.

Lawrence is out of contract this summer but compensation will be payable to Mansfield because he is under 24.

That causes Leeds a problem because they find themselves in the same situation Sunderland were in 12 months ago ( needing to ship expensive, high-waged players out to free- up funds before they can bring anyone else in.

Blackwell said: "The first week or two in July will be when you find most progress is done in the transfer market.

"The situation is we are waiting on a few moves from here to other clubs going through before we can bring in more additions to the squad.

"When those players do leave, the picture will also be clearer and I will have a better understanding of how much is in the pot for me to spend. At the moment we're looking and putting out the feelers but we're having to be patient."

Sunderland have already signed Wales international midfielder Carl Robinson ( who spent the last few months of last season on loan on Wearside ( from Portsmouth and young striker Stephen Elliott from Manchester City, both on free transfers.

They will also complete the signing of Oxford United midfielder Dean Whitehead when his contract expires at the end of June, although compensation has still to be agreed between the clubs and if no deal can be reached the figure will be set by a tribunal.

Meanwhile, former Sunderland defender Simon Ramsden is in talks with Third Division Grimsby Town.

The 23-year-old was told by McCarthy towards the end of last season that he would not be offered a new contract at the Stadium of Light when his current deal runs out this summer.