O'Donovan is set to join Fulham

The 21-year-old declined to undergo a medical at Fulham and is understood to be keen to join the Black Cats.

Keane told the Sunderland Echo: "Talks are ongoing and we're hoping we'll all be happy at the end of the week.

"Roy, ourselves and Cork are all involved and hopefully we'll have things sorted one way or the other in the next day or two."

Earlier, chairman Niall Quinn had told BBC Five Live: "The ball's still up in the air.

"Roy Keane has expressed a keen interest and from what I've read the player is interested."

Quinn added: "But we respect Cork City and know the player is under contract."

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A reported �530,000 fee had been agreed between Fulham and Cork.

Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez said the fee was "not a lot of money in Premiership terms but a lot of money in non-Premiership terms".

Sanchez added: "He has done very well at Cork and he will be going back there on loan until the end of their season. He's a young player for the future."

The Eircom Premier team have previously confirmed that a verbal agreement had been reached with the Craven Cottage club.