SUnderland are edging closer to signing Dundee United’s highly-rated youngster John Souttar.
The Black Cats, who are without a manager following Paulo Di Canio’s sacking, had a £400,000 offer for the defender, who has just turned 17, rejected last month.
However, they have now come back with an improved figure, believed to be in the region of £600,000, which has persuaded United to part with one of their prize assets.
Souttar and his representatives have travelled to the Stadium of Light to view the facilities and have discussed terms with club officials.
The ball is now in the player’s court over whether to swap Tayside for Wearside.
However, Souttar, a product of the Tannadice youth system, has been tracked by a host of other big-name clubs including both Manchester sides as well as Liverpool and Newcastle, and one of them could yet come in at the 11th hour to hijack the deal.
The player intimated in an interview with The Courier that it was far from a foregone conclusion that he would be heading to England at this stage of his career.
He said: “You have seen people going down south and some of them just fading away. You see others who have done exceptionally well like James McCarthy getting a move to Everton for £14 million.
“Everyone looks at McCarthy and how well he has done.
“Everyone wants to play down in England, to play at the highest level possible. So you need to look at both sides.”
If Souttar does decide to go, the fact that the transfer window is closed would not be a hurdle as Sunderland could wait until January to register him while continuing to monitor his progress at their academy.