Jack Rodwell is on the verge of a sensational move to Italian giants AS Roma - to the amazement of Sunderland fans.
Rodwell , 28, was released by Blackburn Rovers in the summer after a hit-and-miss season in the Sky Bet Championship that saw him feature 21 times.
And that spell in Lancashire followed a miserable four years in the North East that culminated in Sunderland's relegation to League One after a campaign in which Rodwell managed just 104 league minutes.
But after four months without a club, the former England international could be about to land a move to Serie A - provided he passes a medical.
Roma sit in 6th place in Italy's top flight but have been hit by a string injuries in midfield, with Rodwell earmarked as a short-term fix.
The ex-Everton and Manchester City man, who joined the Black Cats for £10million in 2014, was at the Stadio Olympico on Thursday night as Roma drew 1-1 with Borussia Monchengladbach in the Europa League.
