Sunderland boss Roy Keane is aiming to trump Hull City for Middlesbrough's want-away George Boateng.
Boro have accepted the Tigers' £2m bid for the Dutch midfielder.
But Sunderland boss Keano matched their offer and will give the 32-year-old a two-year deal worth £30,000-a-week.
And Boateng will not need to uproot his family from the North East if he picks Black Cats ahead of Humberside.