Sunderland are on the verge of capturing their fifth January signing after agreeing a fee for Bordeaux playmaker Wahbi Khazri.
The Black Cats had been in the hunt for a forward with Andre Ayew supposedly the main target. Despite this, Sam Allardyce turned his attentions overseas and looks to have landed the Tunisian international.
Another addition
Bordeaux have confirmed that Khazri is heading to the North East to pen a four-and-a-half-year deal with the fee in the region of £9m.
The French outfit released a statement and described the move as a ‘beautiful opportunity’. Khazri will join Jan Kirchhoff, Dame N’Doye, Steve Harper and Lamine Kone as Allardyce continues his hunt in a bid to avoid the drop.
Khazri joined the Ligue 1 side 18 months ago from Bastia, scoring 14 goals in 48 appearances. Aston Villa and Celta Vigo were also rumoured to be interested but will now have to look elsewhere.
The 24-year-old has been a star turn in Bordeaux’s season alongside Henri Saivet, with the latter leaving the French giants to join Newcastle United in a £5 million deal.
Sunderland are hoping to finalise the deal over the weekend with their next game against Manchester City on Tuesday.
So who is Wahbi Khazri?
Khazri joined Bastia in 2003 and eventually made his debut in 2009. The Tunisian then fired the Corsicans into the top flight of the 2011-12 campaign with an impressive nine goals and seven assists.
The versatile Khazri netted 32 times in 171 appearances before joining Bordeaux in the summer of 2014.
Tunisia soon came calling and Khazri made the squad that took part in the 2013 African Cup of Nations. He has since made 13 appearances for his country, scoring six times.
Khazri has plenty of admirers
French football writer Robin Bairner tweeted: "He's been Bordeaux's offensive catalyst this season. When he's played well, so has the team."
He added, "Best as a 10, but if SAFC are going to play three up front he can play wide comfortably."