Sunderland are finalising the signing of Arsenal defender Daniel Ballard after he completed a medical, Football Insider understands.
The 22-year-old came close to joining Burnley earlier this week after they had a £2million bid accepted but could not agree terms.
Now an Arsenal source has told Football Insider that Sunderland have swooped to tie up a deal for Ballard and are set to complete the transfer in the next 24 hours.
It is believed the Black Cats have a full agreement in place for Ballard, who has spent the last two seasons out on loan at Blackpool and Millwall.
He has also been of interest to Millwall and Blackburn Rovers in this window.
Mikel Arteta has given the green light for the young centre-back to leave Arsenal this summer.
Ballard, who has been at Arsenal since the age of eight, has a year left on his Gunners contract after they triggered a two-year extension last summer (2021) but he has not made his senior debut for the club.
In the 2021-22 season, he featured in 32 games across all competitions for Millwall, including 30 Championship starts.
That was his first campaign in England’s second-tier but he has also spent time in League One with Blackpool and League Two with Swindon Town.
Alex Neil is looking to bolster his squad with Championship experience after Sunderland won promotion via the League One play-offs.
They have not added any new faces but Leon Dajaku’s loan move has been made permanent and Patrick Roberts has signed a new contract.
