Watford look set to win the race to sign Ryan Porteous - with Sunderland having been one of the clubs linked with the Hibernian defender earlier in the transfer window. The BBC is reporting that Porteous is travelling to Watford after the Hornets agreed a fee of around £450,000 for the 23-year-old Scotland international centre-back.
Porteous is out of contract in the summer and had turned down a new deal at Easter Road. Former Sunderland boss Lee Johnson is in charge at Hibs, and the Black Cats had been mentioned as a potential suitor for Porteous if he left this month.
West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City, and Blackburn Rovers had also been credited with an interest, along with Watford. Talk of a move to Sunderland had gone quiet in recent weeks and now Watford seem all but certain to get their man.
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Sunderland's Australia international defender Bailey Wright has been linked with a move away from Wearside this month, with League One Portsmouth reportedly showing interest. But it is unlikely that he would be allowed to leave unless Sunderland brought in a replacement.
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