SUNDERLAND are hoping to push through a deal for Manchester United defender John O’Shea before Steve Bruce’s squad reconvene for the start of pre-season training on Wednesday.

Black Cats officials have already held preliminary talks with O’Shea’s representatives, with the Republic of Ireland international having expressed a willingness to move to the Stadium of Light.

Bruce is now hoping to hold face-to-face talks with O’Shea on Wearside within the next 48 hours, with a view to finalising personal terms and holding a medical.

That would pave the way for a deal to be concluded by the middle of the week, with Sunderland’s players due to kick off their pre-season preparations in two days time.

Having agreed a £12m fee for O’Shea, Wes Brown and Darron Gibson, Bruce is understood to have negotiated a separate agreement, worth around £3m, relating solely to O’Shea.

The Sunderland boss remains hopeful that deals for Brown and Gibson can still be concluded, but the former is also interesting Stoke City and would prefer to remain in the North-West.

O’Shea is also the subject of strong interest from Celtic, but the 30-year-old has no desire to move to the Scottish Premier League and Sunderland are confident of tying up a deal for a player who would provide some much-needed defensive versatility.

While O’Shea would arrive primarily as a centre-half, his ability to also slot in at right-back makes considerable appeal after the departure of Nedum Onuoha, who has returned to Manchester City following the end of his loan spell.

Sunderland made their sixth signing of the summer on Saturday, as former Arsenal youngster Roarie Deacon penned a one-year deal at the Stadium of Light.

Nineteen-year-old Deacon became a free agent on Friday when he was released from the Gunners’ reserve ranks.

The attacking midfielder scored four goals in 16 reserve appearances last season and was part of the Arsenal Under-19 side that recently reached the semi-finals of the prestigious Dallas Cup.

* Sunderland striker Asa-moah Gyan was named Ghanaian Sports Personality of the Year at the weekend, edging out fellow footballer Richard Kingson and boxing world champion Joseph Agbeko to claim the award.