Denver Hume's move to Portsmouth is edging closer with Sunderland reportedly set to bank £200,000 for the defender - with a significant sell-on clause.
The 23-year-old is thought to have travelled to the South Coast to undertake a medical and finalise personal terms, and would become Pompey boss Danny Cowley's first permanent signing this month.
Hume was linked with Portsmouth last week and he was a notable absentee when the sides met at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, with Lee Johnson confirming after the match that Pompey had made a verbal offer and admitting he had left the player out because to involve him would have been 'unfair' on him in the circumstances.
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In the wake of Sunderland's 1-0 win, Johnson said: "There is interest -there is interest from Portsmouth.
"Nothing has been agreed yet but there have been verbal offers, although maybe not written offers.
"I took the decision to leave Denver out because I thought it was unfair on him - if he comes on and scores the winner, it would be difficult for him.
"If [Portsmouth boss] Danny Cowley asks him what our team is, it will be difficult for him because there has been contact.
"I felt it was the right thing to do and I gave Denver the day off yesterday [Friday].
"But if it goes past this week and nothing gets done, absolutely he will be part of our squad going forward."
In his post-match press conference, Cowley also confirmed his interest saying: "He's a player we would like to bring in.
"We'd like an attacking left-back and he's one of two we've enquired about.
"I believe we've made an offer, but I've been focusing on this game and don't know any more than that at the moment."
Hume was out of contract last summer and stalled on signing a new deal with the Black Cats, before eventually committing to a new two-year contract in September.
Had Hume left the club as a free agent, Sunderland would have been entitled to compensation for the academy graduate but could not guarantee the level at which that would be set, but once Hume signed a new contract it gave them the ability to set a transfer fee if he moved on.
While Hume was refusing to sign the contract, Sunderland brought in Dennis Cirkin from Spurs and Niall Huggins from Leeds United, which meant he dropped down the pecking order.
Aside from his contract wrangle, at the beginning of the season Hume was still recovering from a hamstring operation, and shortly after he returned to action in October he then suffered an ankle problem.
Hume has made just three starts this season, all in cup competitions, and his involvement in the league campaign has amounted to just four outings as a substitute.
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