Stoke City are in advanced talks for Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead.

The Sentinel says Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has confirmed the clubs are in talks regarding the transfer and the 27-year-old is believed to have been at the Britannia Stadium today.

The combative midfielder looked set to join Ipswich Town with team-mate Daryl Murphy after Sunderland accepted a £5m bid for the duo.

However, any double deal faltered following Hull City's move for Murphy and Stoke's 11th-hour intervention for Whitehead.

The figure could be around £3m for the 6ft midfielder, who has played close to 200 games for the Black Cats since joining the club from Oxford United in 2004.