According to reports, US businessman Mark Campbell will become Sunderland's majority stakeholder before the end of this month.
The Mail Online report that the US investor will acquire a 74 per cent stake in the club, buying 64 per cent of current owner Stewart Donald’s stake and 10 per cent of Juan Sartori’s.
It will leave Donald and Sartori with a 10 per cent stake each, while Charlie Methven will retain his six per cent stake in the club given to him after he brokered a deal for Donald to buy the club off Ellis Short.
The report claims Campbell has undertaken due diligence and a deal is expected to be completed in the next month.
Sunderland insist they are still talking to other parties but the report states Campbell is the only serious contender left in the race.
It is unclear what position Donald would hold after the deal is completed while the value of the deal is unknown.
Here is all you need to know about Campbell.
Who is Mark Campbell? What do we know about his consortium?
Campbell is an American stockbroker who is said to be heading a New York-based consortium with links to the Far East.
It has been reported that Campbell wants to install former Celtic chief scout John Park as Sunderland's new director of football.
Park spent 11 years as Celtic's chief scout and helped the club sign the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama, Stuart Armstrong, Ki Sung-yueng, Fraser Forster and Gary Hooper, who the club then sold on for a huge profit.
He is currently working in and advisory role for Vancouver Whitecaps and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Falkirk talk and where Sunderland might fit in
The Campbell-led consortium have also been in discussions over a takeover at Scottish League One side Falkirk.
The Bairns are desperate for fresh investment following relegation and it was reported last month that Campbell's group were also intrigued by potential development opportunities around the club’s stadium, which is owned by Falkirk Council.
It was also believed that should the group take control of Falkirk and Sunderland, the Bairns would act as a feeder club for the Black Cats.
Whether the situation has changed between now and then remains to be seen.
What have Sunderland said about a takeover?
Executive director Charlie Methven said: "We expect a resolution or some clarity before the end of June and in time for pre-season.
"It is a case of re-examining the situation and asking, "Is it the right deal at the right time?" We have to consider what we think is best for the club in the short, medium and long term.
"Stewart has said that he is in discussions with a number of potential investors, and three or four of those are still in play.
"No share purchase agreement has yet been signed, and were it going to be a new majority shareholder, they would still need to go through the EFL approval process.
"So it remains a possibility that Stewart will stay in control and nothing will change. The necessity for investment is no longer there because we will still be in League One next season."
