SUNDERLAND are confident of pulling off a record-breaking move for Peter Crouch after landing their first signing of the summer.

Fraizer Campbell, the Manchester United striker, has signed a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light to complete a £3.5m transfer which could rise to £6m. But while the acquisition of Campbell has been described as a “statement of intent” in the corridors of power at the Wearside club, there is a determination to make an even greater statement signing in Crouch.

Portsmouth, close to being taken over, are ready to sell the England striker and negotiations with Sunderland have reached the £15m stage.

The fee is tempting Pompey and the Black Cats are hopeful that an agreement will be reached soon with the money men at Fratton Park.

The problem for manager Steve Bruce, however, is that he will have to convince Crouch that he is better off at Sunderland than Tottenham, Fulham and even AC Milan.

All three clubs are interested in the former Liverpool man, who earns around £70,000-a-week at Portsmouth, and Bruce is keen to tie up something this week before taking the squad on pre-season trips to the Algarve and Amsterdam.

Sunderland chief executive Steve Walton said: “Hopefully the next few weeks will be exciting for Sunderland fans. We have more moves in the pipeline.”

With Aston Villa believed to have emerged as competition for the signature of Darren Bent, Bruce will have to use all of his powers of persuasion to land his next two striker targets.

But he is at least satisfied after making his first signing since taking over in June, having persuaded Campbell to turn down Hull and head for the North-East.

The 21-year-old has joined Sunderland after an unsuccessful spell on loan at Tottenham last season, where he scored three goals in just nine starts for Spurs.

Campbell h a s previously been on loan at both Hull and Royal Antwerp, but now the England Under-21 international is looking ahead to his new life at Sunderland – starting with a friendly at Darlington on Thursday.

“Sunderland are an ambitious club who are going to go forward with the financial backing they have here now,”

he said.

“I know they are looking to bring in quality alongside some very good existing players.

It was an easy decision to make in the end. Sunderland are a m a s s i v e club with great ambition and I have a really good gut feeling about this move.”

Bruce also continues to press ahead with his attempts to bolster his defensive ranks and has held talks with Paraguayan Paulo Da Silva, but the manager also has other options.

There are fears that Richard Dunne has outlined a desire to stay with Manchester City next season, meaning Bruce has had to think about targeting Arsenal’s Phillipe Senderos and Tottenham’s Michael Dawson instead.

The need for a new defender could be further strengthened if Stoke are successful in their pursuit of Nyron Nosworthy.

Tony Pulis handed Nosworthy his debut during their days together at Gillingham and is keen to team up with him again.