WHEN the January transfer window closes tonight, Swansea City striker Danny Graham and former Newcastle United midfielder Kieron Dyer are set to become the biggest new arrivals in the North-East on deadline day.

Graham was given permission to head for Wearside and will undergo a medical this morning ahead of signing a three-and-a-half year deal and completing a £5.5m switch.

The 27-year-old will become Martin O’Neill’s third signing of the month following the arrivals of Alfred N’Diaye and Kader Mangane from Bursaspor and Al-Hilal respectively.

And Graham will take O’Neill’s spending for the last two transfer windows through the £30m barrier in his attempts to lead Sunderland in to the top half of the Premier League in his first full season in charge.

Confirmation of the former Middlesbrough striker’s move should come just two days after he was left ion no doubt about what many Sunderland supporters think of his arrival.

The Geordie-born striker was subjected to jeers and derogatory chants during Swansea’s goalless draw with the Black Cats on Tuesday, which looks certain to be his farewell appearance for the Swans.

Graham, who handed his Swansea shirt to a young Sunderland fan that night, should go straight in to the squad for Saturday’s trip to Reading.

Sunderland – who have also been keeping an eye on Watford’s Matej Vydra who is on loan from Udinese – would still like to add a further signing before the window shuts, but there were no deals in the pipeline last night.

The word from Sunderland’s Premier League rivals, Newcastle, was also one of calm. Having spent more than £16m on five new faces already this month, the Magpies are likely to be busier on outgoing deals today.

Right-back Danny Simpson, out of contract in the summer, is still being courted by Stoke City, Reading, Wigan and Fulham, but Newcastle’s valuation has not been met.

And the Magpies’ Spanish misfit Xisco – who moved from Deportivo la Coruna for £5.8m in 2008 – has travelled to Spain ahead of a loan to second division side Cordoba.

Newcastle are is unlikely to add to the purchases of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko, Massadio Haidara and Yoan Gouffran, but have been working on a couple of younger additions.

It is thought any incomings will be to join up with the club’s development squad and Servette’s 16-year-old midfielder Kevin Mbabu seems the most likely to join.

Newcastle are hoping to bring highly-rated Ajax forward Siem de Jong over to Tyneside in the summer.

Former St James’ Park midfielder Dyer, meanwhile, will train with Middlesbrough’s squad again today before rubber-stamping his surprise switch to Teesside.

The 34-year-old is set to sign a pay-as-you play deal, which will include a basic weekly wage, and is likely to provide him with one last chance to shine following an injury-hit career.

Former club Ipswich, where he is set to make his debut on Saturday, were among those also keen to hand him a deal but his connections with Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus helped earn a Middlesbrough contract.

He trained with the Middlesbrough squad on Tuesday and is said to be keen to enjoy his spell at the Riverside, having been blighted by hamstring problems for years and a broken leg which wrecked his West Ham career in 2007.

Dyer – who earned 33 England caps – has made 35 Premier League appearances in five-and-a-half years since leaving Newcastle but Queens Park Rangers released him at the start of the month.

Middlesbrough, eager to get their promotion push back on track, are not expecting to be too busy today.

It is understood, however, striker Robert Earnshaw has expressed an interest in joining after being told he can leave Cardiff City, but nothing has been followed up.

Various lower division clubs have shown a lot of interest in a number of Middlesbrough’s younger players, including striker Curtis Main.