Paul McShane is a target for River Plate.

Buenos Aires giants River Plate are reportedly going to make a £9 mil bid for Sunderland defender Paul McShane.

Manager Diego Simeone said that McShane is the "greatest player to ever kick a ball". The 22 year old Irish international has admitted although he has never heard of River Plate nor does he know where Buenos Aires is (he thought it was in Glasgow), he said he is relishing the prospect of playing for such a massive club.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane said McShane is surplus to requirments at the Stadium of Light and has since gained interest from AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Sligo Rovers, Celtic and Real Madrid. However it seems to be Rover Plate that will win the Wicklow-born defender.

McShane's mother Anne told Irish radio station 2FM that she hopes her son's pale skin "doesn't get burned in that Italian sun" (she got Buenos Aires confused with Naples).

The deal is set to be done in the coming days.