Yorke to sign on

6:04am Tuesday 1st July 2008

DWIGHT Yorke is expected to sign a new one-year deal with Sunderland this week after a proposed move to Australian A-League side Central Coast Mariners collapsed at the weekend.

Yorke is currently a free agent after his previous Sunderland contract expired at the end of last season.

The 36-year-old has been offered a new deal on Wearside, but flew to Australia at the start of last week in order to negotiate terms with Central Coast Mariners owner John Singleton.

Those talks collapsed at the weekend when Mariners chief executive Lyall Gorman told Yorke he would not be matching his substantial wage demands.

With Sydney FC also reluctant to offer a second spell down under, Yorke is expected to renew contract talks with the Black Cats.

Sunderland are expected to honour the deal that was offered more than a month ago.

With the veteran midfielder having started to study for his coaching qualifications, there had been suggestions that the Black Cats would offer a player-coach contract for the forthcoming campaign.

However, with Yorke keen to prolong his playing career for as long as possible, the deal that is currently on the table relates to playing duties alone.

Spain international David Guiza is the latest striker to have been linked with the Black Cats and the 27-year-old is certain to leave Real Mallorca, this summer.

Keane is ready to table a £10m bid, but Guiza's impressive displays at the European Championships mean Sunderland will face competition from right across the continent.

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