Sunderland are reportedly ahead of Birmingham and Leeds in the race to sign Aston Villa defender Tommy Elphick.
According to The Mirror, Sunderland are now leading the race to sign Aston Villa defender Tommy Elphick, ahead of Birmingham City and Leeds United.
The Black Cats have been busy in the transfer market since Simon Grayson’s appointment as manager, bringing in Tyias Browning, Brendan Galloway, Aiden McGeady and James Vaughan.
Aston Villa’s Tommy Elphick celebrates
Sky Sports now claim that Bournemouth striker Lewis Grabban is set for a medical with the Black Cats ahead of a season-long loan move, and Sunderland’s recruitment drive may not end there either.
The Mirror report this evening that Sunderland are now leading the race to land Aston Villa defender Tommy Elphick, as Grayson looks for more reinforcements at the back.
Elphick, 29, captained Bournemouth to promotion from League One and the Championship, and Villa swooped to sign him last summer, immediately making him skipper as they viewed him as the defensive leader they needed.
However, the former Brighton man struggled at Villa Park, starting just 20 league games last season, and having been left out of Villa’s pre-season squad, he looks set to leave the club – especially after the arrivals of John Terry and Christopher Samba.
Tommy Elphick of Aston Villa
Birmingham and Leeds have been positioning themselves in the race to sign Elphick, but it’s now believed that Sunderland are in pole position to land the centre back in what could prove to be a double deal.
The report notes that Sunderland also want to sign Aston Villa forward Ross McCormack, who worked with Grayson at Leeds – and with neither player in Steve Bruce’s plans at Villa Park, a double deal could be best for all parties.
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