Sunderland are confident of completing the permanent signing of Bailey Wright following his release at Bristol City, according to the Northern Echo.
Wright said goodbye to City on Thursday following the expiration of his contract on June 30 having arrived in Bristol from Preston North End in January 2017.
The final phase of his time in BS3 was spent on loan at Sunderland, prior to the League One campaign being curtailed, with the Australian international impressing over his five appearances before suffering an ankle ligament injury.
The 27-year-old has reportedly already moved to the north east and underwent a significant amount of his rehab in the area with Black Cats manager Phil Parkinson keeping in close contact.
The Northern Echo report that Wright has also been approached by two other League One clubs but Wright has held talks with Sunderland officials over a long-term deal and more discussions are anticipated over the next 48 hours.
"The recruitment process is in place, and we have had a lot of meetings via Zoom calls,” said Parkinson, in an interview with BBC Newcastle.
"We’ve been speaking to players and agents over those calls, and looking to piece the squad together, getting players in to fill the positions we feel we need to strengthen. Seven or eight players is about what we are looking to bring in."
Sunderland released three centre-backs in June - Alim Ozturk, Joel Lynch and Bristol Rovers-bound Jack Baldwin - leaving a sizeable hole in that area of the field, but have offered a new contract to Tom Flanagan.
