Sunderland have already opened talks with Campbell's agent over a four-year contract and the 21-year-old could undergo a medical over the weekend before becoming the first signing of Steve Bruce's reign on Wearside.
The deal struck with Man U is for an initial £3.5m, although Campbell could end up costing Sunderland more than £5m, based on future appearances.
]]>The Black Cats have opened negotiations for England strikers Darren Bent and Peter Crouch over the past week as well as making inquiries about Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne - although free agent Jermaine Pennant last night signed for Real Zaragoza.
Sunderland have also made an approach to England under-21 striker Frazier Campbell as Steve Bruce looks to add firepower after the departure of Djibril Cisse.
]]>The Black Cats are understood to have offered an initial £11m for England hitman Crouch, with another £2m in add-ons.
However, they face competition from one of Crouch's former clubs Aston Villa and fellow admirers Fulham and Blackburn.
]]>Keane told Irish journalists on Tuesday night that he had agreed fees for two players and was expecting to talk to them later in the week
The Journal understands they were for captain Whitehead and Murphy with the combined fee understood to be in the region of £5million.
]]>Ironically, Sunderland could be the ones who end up financing a rival bid for Dunne from the Londoners if they succeed in their £10m pursuit of Spurs striker Darren Bent.
Bent has been given permission to open talks with Sunderland.
]]>Sunderland are understood to be readying a £14m bid for Portsmouth striker Crouch, while the Black Cats have already been given permission to enter talks with Tottenham Hotspur forward Bent.
But whereas completion of a move for the latter could be imminent given Spurs' need to sell before they can begin their own summer recruitment drive, Black Cats boss Steve Bruce may be forced to wait for Crouch.
]]>Dunne's name was strongly linked with the Black Cats last month, but chairman Quinn has now confirmed for the first time that the Republic of Ireland international defender is on manager Steve Bruce's summer shopping list.
The 29-year-old centre-back is City's longest-serving player, having joined from Everton in 2000, and was named the club's Player of the Year four seasons in a row from 2005-2008.
]]>As Tottenham Hotspur attempt to muscle in on defensive target Paulo Da Silva, the comments are a sobering reminder that for all the money at the Stadium of Light, they lack the glamour of some of their Premier League counterparts.
All summer long the Wearsiders have been linked with Chamakh, whose goals helped take Laurent Blanc's team to their first league title in a decade.
]]>Although Wigan have issued repeated "hands off" warnings over their England Under-21 international, Cattermole is understood to remain on Steve Bruce's list of top targets.
The new Black Cats boss revitalised the 21-year-old's troubled early career when he took him to the Latics in a £4.5m deal last summer.
]]>Bruce has targeted - and continues to pursue - a host of high-profile Premier League footballers as he tries to spend the biggest transfer budget he has ever been handed. But he has enjoyed great success in recent years by exploiting his contacts in central and southern America. On Saturday, Da Silva said his goodbyes to Mexican club Deportivo Toluca, where he has spent the last six seasons, before heading to England.
"First of all I want to thank Deportivo Toluca for the effort they made and for giving me the opportunity to fulfil a dream, which is playing in Europe," said Da Silva, whose contract has expired. "It is certainly an important step in my football career and I am very grateful to everyone.
]]>The Tottenham striker has been a long-term target at the Stadium of Light, where a front man has become the priority after Djibril Cisse's departure.
But Bent - available for less than the £18m widely reported - was reluctant to move to Wearside while Roy Keane and Ricky Sbragia were managers.
]]>Quinn insists he is relaxed about the Black Cats' lack of progress in the transfer market so far this summer, as he warned fans not to expect large numbers of new arrivals.
Although the Wearsiders are looking to strengthen in every area of the side, a new centre-back, a creative midfielder and a centre-forward are their main priority, with the first team due to return for pre-season training in just under a week's time. And Sunderland's chairman believes it will be the character of the players, as much as their talent, which will determine whether they are signed by Bruce.
]]>The ex-England star is out of contract at managerless Portsmouth, where he is reluctant to extend his stay while Sulaiman Al Fahim's proposed takeover remains in doubt.
Considering several offers, the 34-year-old is seeking a stable club and, in further encouragement to the Black Cats, is engaged to Fiona Barrett - granddaughter of Geordie property tycoon Sir Laurie Barrett and heiress to his Barrett Homes empire - with whom he has recently been spotted house- hunting in Northumberland.
]]>Phase two of the Black Cats' clear-out got under way yesterday with official confirmation of Michael Chopra's departure to Cardiff City. But Sunderland's refusal to let Stokes return to the Scottish Premier League on another loan has scared off a club who rate the Republic of Ireland international highly but can not get close to matching his wages.
It could become something of a theme as manager Steve Bruce's attempts to prune his squad are hindered by the generous wage policy of the Drumaville era.
]]>And on the day the Black Cats bid farewell to a host of out-of-contract players, the Chronicle also understands they have offered a trial to French international striker Bryan Bergougnoux.
Suazo was the world's leading scorer in top-flight football in 2006, when he netted 38 goals in 44 games for Chilean giants Colo Colo before joining Mexican side Monterrey.
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