SUNDERLAND have won the race to sign in-demand former Leeds United winger Ian Poveda.

Sheffield Wednesday wanted the 24-year-old this summer on the back of the winger impressing at Hillsborough on loan last season, while Burnley and Luton, both preparing for life in the Championship after Premier League relegation, were also linked.

But it's the Black Cats who've come out on top in the battle to capture the wideman, with pictures having emerged on Wednesday morning of Poveda holding a Sunderland scarf aloft at the Academy of Light.

His signing will be officially confirmed in the coming hours.

It's a transfer boost for Regis Le Bris, with Poveda arriving with plenty of Championship experience. He had spells on loan at Blackpool and Blackburn before linking up with Sheffield Wednesday.

Former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray managed Poveda at Blackburn and tried to sign him again in January when he was in charge at Birmingham.

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While the Poveda deal has been finalised, there's not yet an agreement in place to sign Alexandre Mendy from Caen.

Sunderland are interested in the 30-year-old striker and talks have taken place.

Mendy has been training on his own and didn't travel with the Caen squad for their pre-season trip to Switzerland.

Caen boss Nicolas Seube said this week: “I hope that when we return, either an arrangement will have been found, or Alex will be able to rejoin the group. It’s also for his own good too.”

The Guinea-Bissau international, who has publicly told of his desire to join Sunderland, scored 22 goals in 37 appearances in the French second tier last term.