JOZY ALTIDORE arrived in Canada last night to finalise a move away from Wearside, with Jermain Defoe hoping the swap deal can be rushed through so he can make his Sunderland debut at his former club Tottenham tomorrow.

After successful negotiations on both sides of the Atlantic, both Altidore and Defoe are today expected to be paraded as the marquee January signings by both Toronto and the Black Cats.

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet has been keen to improve his attacking options and the swap deal – which will see Defoe complete a move worth around £14m including wages - will provide the Uruguayan with the predatory goalscorer he has craved since taking over 15 months ago.

Defoe, set to sign a three-and-a-half year contract, trained with the Sunderland squad yesterday after completing his end of the deal while Altidore, who is believed to have already agreed terms with Toronto, was en route to North America where he was due to undergo a medical late last night.

Poyet hopes everything will be in place by noon to ensure Defoe is available to play a part at White Hart Lane tomorrow; where he had two successful spells as a Spurs striker.

The 32-year-old has been keen to secure a return to the Premier League after a frustrating 11 months with Toronto, where he started off promisingly before injury and homesickness prevented him from playing more regularly.

John Carver, the Newcastle caretaker boss who was in charge of Toronto for 14 months starting in 2008, thinks Sunderland have landed a gem despite questioning why the former England man struggled in Canada.

Carver said: “I can’t believe he hasn’t settled in Toronto because, let me tell you, Toronto is a fantastic party city! It’s a fantastic place so I was surprised. I think it’s a good signing for them.

“I know that when he went to Toronto he did extremely well but he had one or two injury problems, so he didn’t play as much as he should have done. I know he did have a problem settling there as one or two people told me. But I think Jozy has got a great deal going the other way on £80,000 a week!

“Defoe could have been the big star of the MLS. In the eyes of the fans in Toronto, he was in a portion of the games he played. He got something like 11 goals in 19 games. If he had stayed fit, he may have got them into the play-offs.

“Their form fell away when he got injured. There are some good players going out there now and it’s a tough league, but he wanted to come back to England and feels like he’s got something to offer and he’s gone to our rivals.”

Defoe, 32, has kept himself fit while he has looked for a new club in England so is satisfied he will be available to play some part against Spurs – and he thinks he is ready to recapture his knack for finding he net.

He said: “I felt so sharp (after training). All that hard work has paid off. I can’t wait to start scoring goals for Sunderland. Everybody knows how much I love English football and I still feel I have a lot to offer.

“People might look at my age but I have always looked after myself and I hope I can show that with my performances.”

While Sunderland fans are excited at the prospect of seeing Defoe line up in a red and white shirt, there is also much anticipation in Toronto ahead of Altidore’s arrival.

The 25-year-old, who has been prolific for the United States, is to be handed a lucrative contract by the Reds and the switch has been well received despite leaving Sunderland with just one Premier League goal since arriving in the summer of 2013 from Alkmaar for £6.5m.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have missed out on Polish midfielder Ludovic Obraniak. He has agred terms with Turkish club Caykur Rizespor, despite claiming an interest from Wearside.

Obraniak, 29, said: “Sunderland and West Ham had been in touch but we could not find an agreement over a transfer.”