SUNDERLAND are confident of being able to complete a deal for Wigan winger Viv Solomon-Otabor, and have also made headway in their ongoing contract discussions with Aiden McGeady.

However, the Black Cats have all-but-accepted defeat in their battle to retain Charlie Wyke, with the forward having held a fresh round of talks with senior Celtic officials in the last few days.

Solomon-Otabor has been offered the opportunity to move to the Stadium of Light when his contract at Wigan expires at the end of the month. The 25-year-old made 28 League One appearances for Wigan last season, but is understood to have turned down the offer of a new deal at the DW Stadium.

He has been linked with Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth in the last few days, as well as Blackpool, who are preparing for life in the Championship after winning last month’s play-off final.

However, while the Seasiders can offer the opportunity to play in the second tier, Sunderland officials are hopeful their own offer will persuade Solomon-Otabor to head to Wearside instead.

If he does, he could find himself playing with McGeady next season as talks with the former Republic of Ireland international and his representatives are progressing in a positive direction.

While McGeady has received a number of alternative offers, the 35-year-old would like to remain with Sunderland if the terms of a new deal can be finalised.

Having brought McGeady in from the cold at the start of his Black Cats tenure, Lee Johnson is keen to retain the veteran, who remained one of League One’s most effective wide-men last season.

McGeady’s relationship with Wyke was one of the key factors in Sunderland’s surge up the table in the second half of last season, but the Wearsiders’ leading scorer is unlikely to join his team-mate in committing to a new deal at the Stadium of Light.

Wyke has been the subject of sustained interest from a number of quarters in the last few weeks, but Celtic increasingly looks like his likeliest destination. Senior officials from the Glasgow club spoke with Wyke and his representatives last week, and sources suggest the Teessider would prefer to move to Parkhead than sign for a club in the Championship.

He will not be the only player heading through the Wearside exit door in the next few weeks as midfielder George Dobson and forward Will Grigg are also set to depart on a permanent basis.