As Steve Bruce continues to bolster his squad it is believed that in the next 24 hours Ipswich Towns Connor Wickham will become a Sunderland player for a fee that could reach £13m.
According to The Chronicle the baby faced front man has passed a medical on Wearside and is set to sign on the dotted line and prove his pedigree in the top flight.
A down payment of £8.1m with a further £5m following, depending on appearances for club and country, goals and European qualification has been set in stone according to the Daily Mail.
The Mail has also reported Liverpool are the only other side to have approached the Tractor Boys with an offer, believed to be less than £2m.
At the age of 18, you have to believe Wickham will arrive at the stadium of light with the price tag weighing down on his 6ft 3” shoulders, and despite his age the expectation will most certainly be a presence around the ground from the off.
Towards the back end of last season Paul Jewell put his faith in the powerful striker and he certainly took his opportunity netting nine times, picking up Football League Young Player of the Year and Championship Apprentice of the Year.
He certainly has the potential to become a prolific poacher in the box, but U’17 level aside he is a long way off that. Despite this Bruce looks set to take the gamble and believes he is the man to spearhead his attack.
As he vacates Portman Road and leaps up a division with the Black cats, we will certainly see what he is made of come August.
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