Town are reported to have accepted a fee which could eventually total £13 million from Sunderland for striker Connor Wickham. The Black Cats have been making the running for the 18-year-old frontman since becoming the first club to make a firm offer for the England U21 international last week.

The fee is said to consist of £9 million up front plus a further £4 million in clauses relating to appearances and achievement.

Town are reported to have given Wickham permission to speak to the Wearsiders regarding personal terms.

Liverpool have also been strongly linked with the Hereford-born striker in recent weeks, but the Reds are yet to make a concrete bid, despite reports to the contrary earlier in the month.

The player himself is believed to favour a move to Anfield, having supported Liverpool as a boy, but Sunderland now appear to be in the driving seat, although Town manager Paul Jewell said in March that the one-time Reading academy schoolboy was only interested in a move to one of the Premier League's bigger clubs.

Spurs and Arsenal, who have also been eyeing Wickham since his days in the Blues' academy, are also yet to show their hand.

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

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