Cats closing in on their top target

SUNDERLAND are closing in on their top defensive target of the summer after agreeing a fee to sign Peterborough United’s Jack Baldwin.

The Black Cats are believed to have had an offer of around £200,000 accepted for the Posh captain who has also already agreed personal terms.

The deal will also include a sell-on fee percentage and the centre-back was on Wearside yesterday to undergo a medical and conclude the deal.

Manager Jack Ross arrived this summer with wantaway Lamine Kone as his only senior centre-back and moved quickly to add Turkish stopper Alim Ozturk and Burton Albion defender Tom Flanagan.

He’s since added veteran 35-year-old former Sheffield Wednesday captain Glenn Loovens too - but 25-year-old Baldwin has been the top target all summer, bringing with him plenty of League One experience and leadership.

The ex-Hartlepool defender made 43 appearances for Posh last term in all competitions.

Sunderland’s latest offer is believed to have been their third for Baldwin this summer and they look like they’ve beaten off competition from Championship side Sheffield Wednesday to land him.

Elsewhere, the Black Cats are still working hard to add to other areas of their squad and, according to reports, submitted six bids for various players on Thursday.

One is believed to be an improved offer for 25-year-old Bradford striker Charlie Wyke and another for Kilmarnock winger Jordan Jones.

They are looking at alternative striker options as the Wyke deal drags out, though, and they’d also still like to add at least one more central midfielder too.