Etuhu, who was linked with a move to Derby County in the aftermath of Robert Earnshaw's defection, is now apparently in talks with Sunderland.
The Eastern Daily Press reports that City winger Darren Huckerby has already spoken of his disillusionment at the loss of Earnshaw and the prospective losses of Etuhu and Youssef Safri.
"We can't afford to keep losing our best players," Huckerby told the EDP. "Dickson looks like he is going somewhere else, Saff maybe, we have already lost Earnie - for a team that you would say struggled a little bit last season, to lose three of your best players, you can only go on like for that for so long."
Sunderland are managed by former Manchester United legend Roy Keane, who knows a thing or two about midfielders. They have been frustrated so far in their attempts to bolster their squad for the Premiership, although Cardiff striker Michael Chopra joined last week in a £5million deal.