Sunderland have been granted permission to discuss a deal to sign Inter Milan's Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari.
If terms are agreed, the 26-year-old is expected to join the Black Cats on loan until the end of the season.
Muntari played in the Premier League while at Portsmouth during the 2007-08 campaign before leaving for Inter.
The Ghana international has struggled to secure first-team football at the San Siro and handed in a transfer request earlier this month.
Muntari has helped the club to two successive Serie A titles and the 2010 Champions League crown.
But he was out of favour under Rafael Benitez at the start of the season and has failed to convince new manager Leonardo of his worth, making only one Serie A start this term.
If he does move to the Stadium of Light, he will be joining international team-mates Asamoah Gyan and John Mensah.
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is hoping Asamoah Gyan can continue his smooth transition to the Premier League in the absence of Darren Bent.