Baldwin set to sign

Sunderland are on the verge of their ninth signing of the summer after they agreed a deal with Peterborough United for their captain Jack Baldwin.

The 6’1 centre-back had already been the subject of one bid from Sunderland earlier in the window but that was deemed unacceptable, with Peterborough’s owner Darragh MacAnthony revealing:

We obviously had Sunderland come in and want to pay next to nothing for him, they were trying to shift players at the time. Obviously we turned that down.

The latest bid did the trick though, with the former Hartlepool defender already agreeing personal terms and he’s set to travel to the North East tomorrow to undergo a medical.

The club are still working hard behind the scenes to add to the eight new signings that have already arrived - as well as the impending signature of Baldwin - and Roker Report understands that Sunderland placed bids with six different clubs earlier today - three in the Championship, one in League One, one in League Two and one in the Scottish Premiership.

Although no names have been mentioned, it’s no secret which positions the club are looking to strengthen.

Despite Jerome Sinclair’s arrival yesterday, another two strikers - at least - are required and after Callum McManaman departed for Wigan Athletic recently, a new winger is on the agenda.

We also still need to strengthen in the middle of the pitch. Dylan McGeouch looks like he may be one of the signings of the summer but with Paddy McNair joining Middlesbrough, we need to add goals and a physical presence to what is a relatively short squad.

With the imminent arrival of Baldwin, we’ll add the 25-year-old to our centre-back options, which include Alim Ozturk, Glenn Loovens and Tom Flanaga, we may still require another. Flanagan is not and out-and-out central defender, and as Loovens is approaching his 35th birthday, it may be too much to ask of him to be an ever-present in what will be a hectic League One schedule.

England miss out

Elliot Embleton was once again in action for England under-19s earlier today as they took on Norway with a place in next summers FIFA under-20 World Cup at stake.

The Sunderland midfielder played the whole game but despite there not being much in it, England fell victim to three late goals as Norway clinched a 3-0 win.

Unfortunately that loss means England will be unable to defend their crown after they won the tournament in South Korea last summer.

Diakite on the move

Former Sunderland defender Modibo Diakite has joined third division Italian side Ternana on a free transfer.

The 31-year-old was signed during the ill-fated Roberto Di Fanti era but hardly featured and was soon shipped out to Fiorentina on loan and then a permanent move to La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna.

Diakite has signed a two-year deal with the Serie C side.