ELLIOT EMBLETON is joining Blackpool on a permanent basis, with his departure from Sunderland expected to be confirmed before the start of the new Football League season.

Embleton was given permission to travel to the North-West after Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris deemed him surplus to requirements ahead of the new campaign.

The midfielder has successfully undergone a medical with Blackpool, and is set to sign a two-year contract at Bloomfield Road.

The Durham-born 25-year-old made his senior debut with Sunderland in December 2017, but struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular with the Black Cats.

His most memorable moment in a Sunderland shirt came when he scored the opening goal in the League One play-off final at Wembley in 2022, helping the Wearsiders claim the 2-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers that secured their return to the Championship.

He featured fairly regularly in the first half of the following season, featuring in 23 Championship games, but saw his campaign cut short when he suffered ankle-ligament damage against Hull in December 2022.

He joined Derby County on a season-long loan last summer, but suffered more injury misery when a serious thigh problem led to him making an early return to Wearside.

Having previously spent a three-month period on loan at Blackpool in 2021, he was offered the opportunity to make a permanent switch to the Seasiders when it became clear he was no going to feature in the first team at Sunderland.

Le Bris is trying to trim his first-team squad ahead of Saturday’s Championship season-opener against Cardiff City with midfielder Jay Matete and forward Luis Hemir also having been made available for transfer.

Sunderland’s attempts to add to their squad continue, but despite holding talks over both Alexandre Mendy and Ike Ugbo, the prospects of a new striker arriving before the opening weekend of the new campaign are now remote.