All the latest transfer talk from the North-East and beyond ...

SUNDERLAND

Sunderland manager Jack Ross is on the verge of finally landing the striker he has wanted for the majority of pre-season - Charlie Wyke.

It is understood the Black Cats and Bradford have agreed a fee, believed to be around the £1m mark, for Wyke after Ross confirmed he still wanted to sign him, as reported in Transfer Gossip yesterday.

The former Middlesbrough academy player has been the subject of a couple of Sunderland offers so far but the Bantams had been holding out for around the £1m mark at least.

Bolton had also been keen on Wyke but the Middlesbrough-born front-man is believed to be heading to Wearside to complete a deal that will see him return to the North-East.

Lamine Kone, meanwhile, is expected in France to undergo a medical ahead of a season long loan move to Strasbourg.

Despite the best efforts of the Black Cats to sell him, it seems that a loan will have to be accepted to ease the League One club of his wage.

Kone has interested numerous clubs but it is Strasbourg – who have recently signed Newcastle keeper Matz Sels – who are set to do a deal.

It is a far cry from a couple of years ago when Sunderland wanted £25m for him amid interest from Everton.

NEWCASTLE

Dwight Gayle is keen to stay at Newcastle United and that is slowing down Rafa Benitez’s hopes of landing Salomon Rondon.

While Gayle’s stance is quite nice and deserves to be applauded in many respects because of his clear love for playing in the top-flight with the Magpies, his reluctance to drop to the Championship is making it harder to seal Rondon’s signature.

Newcastle are looking to bring in the West Brom striker and know they can have him for the £16.5m release clause in his contract, so a swap deal involving the two players would be ideal.

But Newcastle do not want to pay that without bringing more cash in, with Benitez having already agreed to pay £9.5m for striker Yoshinori Muto subject to a work permit being granted.

Gayle is expected to be involved in the friendly with Braga tonight.

MIDDLESBROUGH

There are holes to fill in the No 2 and No 11 shirts at Middlesbrough before the transfer window closes on August 9.

Boro have confirmed their new squad list this morning and there are still gaps to fill in those roles as Middlesbrough continue to push for a couple of new arrivals before the deadline.

Ipswich striker Martyn Waghorn is the man they want to replace Patrick Bamford, while there is also believed to be interest maintained in Burnley’s Sam Vokes. Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo remains on the agenda too.

Bamford completed his move to Leeds United yesterday in a deal potentially worth £10m.

Tony Pulis has been credited with an interest in QPR midfielder Luke Freeman. He recorded the third joint highest number of assists in the divisions last year but the Hoops have assured fans they will not let the £3m-rated man go.

OTHER CLUBS …

PSG are still interested in N'Golo Kante and are willing to pay the midfielder more than the £290,000-per-week that Chelsea are offering.

Valencia want to sign Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi, and hope to tempt him with the offer of Champions League football.

Liverpool are considering signing 6ft 7in rookie Barnet goalkeeper Kai McKenznie-Lyle.

Liverpool are considering selling both Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet after the arrival of Alisson.

Chelsea have accepted defeat in their pursuit of Jordan Pickford and will look to target Jan Oblak and Kevin Trapp instead.

Chelsea and Manchester United have been dealt a blow after Lazio's president said the club would not sell Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer.

Wolfsburg are the latest club reportedly interested in Manchester United defender Luke Shaw.

Rangers are prepared to play a waiting game for Kyle Lafferty with the striker looking certain to be in Hearts' opening-day line-up.