Sunderland hope to turn Bailey Wright's loan deal at the Stadium of Light into a permanent transfer, according to reports.
The Sunderland Echo report that the Australian international, whose contract at Bristol City expires this summer, is a player the Black Cats would like to remain on Wearside beyond this season.
After moving to the north East in January, Wright made five appearances in League One, impressing with his composure and reading of the game, as Sunderland claimed clean sheets in four of those matches, before suffering an ankle injury against Oxford on February 15.
Given City appeared reluctant to offer Wright a new contract throughout the 2019/20 season, it looks unlikely the 27-year-old will be retained at Ashton Gate and will be on the free agent market.
He remains a popular and influential figure at City, as witnessed by negotiations over the recent wage deferrals, but his three years at City appear to be coming to an end.
Wright is said to be settled in the north east having moved to Newcastle, "paving the way for a permanent stay".
Exactly how the transfer will be concluded is very much an area of debate as Wright's loan finishes at the end of the season but exactly when that will be remains unclear.
If the season resumes or is played beyond June 30 then Wright, and hundreds of other players in similar positions, will be free agents, as per their contracts.
There have been discussions within the EFL to offer the provision of rolling contracts to help finish the 2019/20 season before players are permitted to leave but in Wright's case he would surely want a resolution quickly.
Given his centre-back resources, outside of a number of injuries in defence, Robins head coach Lee Johnson is unlikely to want to retain Wright beyond June 30 so the expectation is that Wright would be free to leave.
Although Sunderland will surely not be in the only suitors for the centre-back who attracted interest from clubs in the Championship in January before opting to move to Sunderland.
