West Ham have turned down an improved �4.5m offer from Sunderland for Northern Ireland defender George McCartney, BBC Sport understands.
The 27-year-old full-back joined the Upton Park club from Sunderland in 2006 in a four-year deal worth �1m.
The Hammers paid �600,000 for McCartney in a swap deal which saw Clive Clarke moving in the opposite direction.
McCartney is a former Black Cats captain and played 157 times for the team in an eight-year spell.
The Belfast-born player scored on his Northern Ireland debut against Iceland in September 2001.
McCartney spent two years in international exile after refusing to play under manager Lawrie Sanchez.
He was angered after Sanchez hinted that he 'picked' his games.
McCartney returned for his country in 2007 after Nigel Worthington took charge.
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