Sunderland are reported to be ahead of Sheffield Wednesday in the race to sign central-defender Danny Batth.
The 31-year-old is currently at Stoke City, who are eighth in the Championship. After being on the bench for much of the start of the season, Batth was in the starting line-up throughout November and December.
However, over the past week Stoke have recruited Phil Jagielka from Derby County and Taylor Harwood-Bellis on loan from Manchester City.
With Batth likely loosing his starting spot, plus the fact that his contract is believed to expiring in summer, it is expected that he will leave the club this transfer window.
Several possible destinations for Batth have been speculated about, but it is Sunderland who are apparently in the lead to bag the experienced defender.
According to website Football Insider : “A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Sunderland have offered Batth an 18-month deal to make the move to the Stadium of Light.”
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Baath has made 13 appearances in total for Stoke City this season, six of which have been victories with clean sheets.
He grew up int he West Midlands and first played at his local side Wolverhampton Wanderers, before going out on loan at Colchester United in league One. He then had a short loan spell at Sheffield United before a longer spell at Sheffield Wednesday.
After impressing at Wednesday, he returned to Wolves where he made nearly 200 appearances in the Championship and League One. He then went on loan to Middlesbrough before heading to Stoke City in 2019.
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