Crouch begins Sunderland talks

England striker Peter Crouch arrived in the north-east on Thursday to discuss a 12-million-pound (19.7-million-dollar) switch to Sunderland from Portsmouth.

The 28-year-old will hold talks with manager Steve Bruce, but has also been linked with Fulham amid suggestions he will head for the London club on Friday.

The 6ft 7in frontman scored 16 goals in 49 appearances for his club last season, and also played six times for England, finding the back of the net in World Cup qualifier victories over Ukraine and Andorra.

“He is a player I have admired for a very long time, and I suppose a lot of other managers do exactly the same thing,” said Bruce, who has already signed one striker this summer, England Under-21 international Fraizer Campbell, while Paraguay skipper Paulo da Silva has also completed a move to the Stadium of Light.

Bruce is also hoping predecessor Ricky Sbragia will accept his offer to head up the club’s new-look scouting set-up, and is hoping to have his answer next week.

The manager said: “I am revamping the scouting at the club – I think it is a vitally important part, especially today – and I have offered Ricky the head role in that.

“He has said to me he will have a look at it, he will consider it.”