Stoke City defender Danny Higginbotham wants assurances from Sunderland over where his regular position will be before he accepts a move to Wearside.

Left-sided Higginbotham sees himself as a natural centre-half and doesn't want to move to Sunderland if he is being signed as a left-back.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane has lined up a fresh bid of around £2.5million for the 28-year-old.

Stoke's recent captures of defenders Richie de Laet and Jody Craddock - and Higginbotham's absence from Saturday's 2-1 win over Charlton - has led to a feeling of inevitability over his move to Wearside.