Sunderland look set to complete the signing of Ola Toivonen.

Sunderland are close to completing a deal to sign Toivonen from Rennes, and a report in the Northern Echo has updated the ongoing transfer.

It is claimed that the Swedish midfielder-cum-forward is set to travel to Wearside to undergo a medical prior to the weekend to ensure a deal can be completed, with the report stating that the transfer should be finalised before the weekend.

Rennes are looking to sell Toivonen on a permanent deal, having rejected a loan switch to Greek side PAOK earlier in the summer. Sunderland have held talks with the Ligue 1 outfit, which have been progressing well over the last week.

Head coach Dick Advocaat is a big fan of Toivonen, having had the attacker, 29, play under him at PSV Eindhoven, and he is still looking for creative players to join his side.

Toivonen can fill the role of both creator and goalscorer, and would likely fit in as the attacking midfielder in Advocaat’s 4-3-3 system, leaving Jermain Defoe to continue the lone striker role.

Toivonen has been watched by Advocaat for much of the summer, and the Wearside club pushed ahead to complete a deal for him after seeing a move for Napoli midfielder Jonathan de Guzman collapse, as confirmed by HITC Sport.