Sunderland are hopeful of signing Nicolas Lombaerts in the next few days.
Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat is keen on strengthening his backline this summer and the Dutchman has already secured the signing of Sebastian Coates on a permanent deal from Liverpool while even Wes Brown has re-signed with the club after being released.
Advocaat is now eyeing another defender in the form of Lombaerts and according to the Chronicle, the Zenit Saint Petersburg star is set to become a Sunderland player within the next few days.