SUNDERLAND

Sunderland are hoping to complete two more signings in the next 48 hours, with Reading midfielder George Evans and Bradford City striker Charlie Wyke both in line for a move to the Stadium of Light.

Reading have accepted Sunderland’s offer for Evans, with the Black Cats set to pay around £250,000 to land the 23-year-old defensive midfielder.

Evans is currently in Austria, where Reading’s first-team squad are on a pre-season training camp, but is expected to travel to Wearside later today to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms.

He will become Sunderland’s seventh summer signing, and has been given permission to leave Reading after the Royals added former Black Cats midfielder David Meyler to their ranks.

Evans began his career in Manchester City’s academy, and had loan spells at Crewe, Walsall and Scunthorpe before joining Reading in January 2016.

He was heavily involved in Reading’s run to the play-off final under Jaap Stam, but slipped down the pecking order last season, making just 18 appearances in the Championship.

Sunderland are also hoping to wrap up a deal for Wyke, although they have so far proved unable to agree a price with Bradford officials.

The Northern Echo: City striker Charlie Wyke takes on a pair of Avenue defenders – Picture: Andy Garbutt

The Bantams turned down a six-figure offer at the weekend, but talks remain ongoing and the Sunderland hierarchy are still hoping to tie up a deal despite Bradford having offered Wyke a new deal at Valley Parade.

Their chances of successfully pushing through a transfer would be enhanced if Bradford were able to secure a replacement striker, and there is set to be movement on that front in the next 24 hours.

Bradford are close to agreeing a loan deal with Middlesbrough for George Miller, who spent last season on loan at Bury.


NEWCASTLE

Newcastle’s search for a striker has already taken them far and wide this summer, and now they have added Andre Ayew and Divock Origi to the list of forwards they are considering recruiting.

Ayew is a long-term Magpies target, and is set to leave the Liberty Stadium this summer in the wake of Swansea’s relegation from the top-flight.

The Northern Echo:

Besiktas have agreed the terms of a season-long loan deal for Ayew, who moved to Swansea from West Ham for £18m.

However, Ayew would prefer to remain in England, and his representatives are understood to have approached Newcastle to propose a deal.

The Magpies have signalled a possible interest in a season-long loan arrangement, despite Ayew having failed to find the net for Swansea in the second half of last season.

Origi is another loan target, with Liverpool keen to overhaul their attacking department before the transfer window closes on August 9.

The Reds have made Danny Ings available for transfer, but despite Newcastle having coveted the former Burnley striker for a number of years, the Magpies will not be meeting Liverpool’s £20m asking price for the injury-plagued frontman.

They are more interested in Origi, with Liverpool understood to be willing to consider a loan deal for the Belgian, who has struggled to make much of an impression at Anfield following his £10m switch from Lille.


MIDDLESBROUGH

A new striker remains Tony Pulis’ main priority in the remainder of the transfer window, and the Boro boss had added Ipswich forward Martyn Waghorn to his list of potential targets.

Pulis, who is also interested in Burnley’s £15m-rated striker Sam Vokes, is aware of Ipswich’s willingness to sell Waghorn, who scored 16 goals in 44 Championship appearances last season.

The Northern Echo: Martyn Waghorn made his debut for Rangers against Burnley on Tuesday night

However, Ipswich boss Paul Hurst is adamant Waghorn, who previously played with Rangers, will not be leaving on the cheap this summer, and claims it would take a “lot of money” to prise him from Portman Road.

The precise size of Ipswich’s asking price remains to be seen, but Pulis could opt to test the water with a formal offer in the next few days.

He will face intense competition from a number of quarters if he makes a bid, with Leeds, Birmingham and Nottingham Forest all having been credited with a strong interest in acquiring Waghorn.

“We need to get one or two players in, that’s important, but we’ve got to make sure they are the right players,” said Pulis, in the wake of Boro’s weekend friendly win over Sandhausen. “We’d like to bring one or two others in if they are available and if we can.

“Sometimes you have to wait a little bit and see what happens and see what spins around. We’ll see how it goes – we’ve got three weeks to get a few deals done.”