Sunderland are closing in on Daniel Ballard after the Arsenal defender visited Wearside for a medical on Wednesday.
The Black Cats have secured promotion back to the Championship and Alex Neil now wants new signings.
Sunderland have received a defensive boost with Bailey Wright deciding to sign a new contract with the club.
New blood is still needed though and Sunderland now look ready to pounce after Ballard’s move to Burnley fell through.
Sunderland are closing in on Daniel Ballard
The Athletic reported last week that Ballard was heaving to Burnley for a medical after the Clarets agreed a deal with Arsenal.
The deal looked to be done, including a first refusal clause for Arsenal if they wanted to re-sign Ballard down the line.
However, Burnley pulled out of the deal and instead went and signed Oxford United defender Luke McNally earlier this week.
That left Ballard in limbo but he is wanted by so many Championship clubs that a deal always looked likely at some stage.
It now seems that Sunderland have managed to swoop in and win the race ahead of their new Championship rivals.
The Northern Echo claim that Ballard will sign a four-year deal with Sunderland having visited Wearside for a medical.
It’s unclear just how much Sunderland will be paying for Ballard but this will surely represent an exciting outlay for the Black Cats.
Northern Ireland international Ballard has impressed out on loan in the last two seasons, firstly with Blackpool and then with Millwall last season.
First-team action at Arsenal was always going to be hard to come by, but Ballard has proven himself as being a quality Championship defender.
Sunderland hope to have the deal wrapped up this week and Ballard himself will hope for no more nasty surprises after his Burnley move fell through at the final hurdle.
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