Anton Ferdinand is on Wearside completing a medical ahead of finalising an £8million transfer from West Ham United to Sunderland.
Black Cats boss Roy Keane intensified his efforts for the 23-year-old defender in recent weeks, and it now appears that his charm offensive has paid dividends.
Keane told the press: "Anton is up today for a medical and we hope to get that tied up today. I met him last week and it went well. He will be a good addition to our squad and it will keep people on their toes."
Sunderland face Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup tomorrow night, but the Irishman doesn't believe his ninth summer signing will be involved: "He's had a slight hamstring strain, so it would be unfair to throw him straight in."
He added that Ferdinand will most likely not feature for his new club until after the international break which comes during the first week of September. Provisionally, the ex-England under-21 international should make his Mackems debut on September 13th at Wigan.
"There is an international break coming up, so it would give him a chance to train with us for two weeks," Keane continued.
The Black Cats have been among England's biggest spenders during the summer, as they attempt to lift themselves above the relegation scrap.
Keane had already drafted in the likes of El-Hadji Diouf, Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio and Steed Malbranque before completing the signings of Djibril Cisse and David Healy last week.
Meanwhile, Scottish defender Russell Anderson has moved to Burnley on loan from the Stadium of Light in an effort to find first-team football.
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