Sunderland are reportedly close to signing Central Coast Mariners defender Nectarios Triantis, according to beIN Sports Australia.
The deal, said to be worth around £250,000 for the 20-year-old, could go through when the transfer window opens later this month.
Traintis is an Australia Under-20 international and made 22 A-League appearances for the Mariners this season. He was named among the substitutes in the A-League team of the season.
He has previously played for Western Syndey Wanderers and would be the second Central Coast player to head to the North East England in recent months, following Garang Kuol's January move to Newcastle.
Sunderland were down to the bare bones in central defence last season due to injuries, with Luke O'Nien having to deputise. Dan Ballard, Danny Batth and Aji Alese were all ruled out of the final stages of the campaign which saw the Black Cats reach the Championship play-offs.
As with the link to Benfica forward Luis Semedo, the move would suit the profile of players Sunderland have already brought to the club, following in the footsteps of Jewison Bennette, Abdoullah Ba and Isaac Lihadji.
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