Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari is on the verge of joining Sunderland, the media in the north of England has reported.
According to the reports the midfielder is likely to join the Black Cats before the end of the month.
Radio and newspapers in Sunderland claim the Premier League side are closing in on their Ghanaian transfer target despite the player’s reported reluctance in the past.
Despite the unwanted distraction of Darren Bent’s £24m move to Aston Villa this week, the Black Cats have been working hard at board-level to clinch the deals for the Inter Milan player.
Sunderland are also looking to recruit at least one striker this month to fill the gap created by Bent’s departure, which has left the Black Cats with Asamoah Gyan as their only fit frontman.
Villa’s John Carew remains their main target, although Cardiff’s Jay Bothroyd and Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller are also under consideration.
Speculation linking Spurs’ Robbie Keane with a move to Sunderland is wide of the mark, however.
The Bent transfer windfall could also be used to accelerate their plans to sign Wigan wideman Charles N’Zogbia.
However, there is understood to be a big gap between the clubs’ valuations of the player, with Sunderland willing to pay a maximum of £8m while Wigan want closer to £12m.