Tommy Miller has not yet completed his Bosman free transfer to the Stadium of Light, according to Sunderland. However, the Black Cats and Miller's father have both confirmed a deal is close with the midfielder set to undergo a medical and sign his two-year contract next week.

A Sunderland statement reads: “We can confirm that we have agreed a deal in principle with the player. However, as he is currently on honeymoon, we have not finalised matters or been able complete a medical. We are waiting for Tommy to return from his holiday.”

Miller's father, Tommy senior, who represents his son, says the Wearsiders were the only club which would have tempted the 26-year-old away from Town: "Subject to him passing his medical next Wednesday, he is signing for Sunderland.

"He had plenty of options, but if he was going to stay in the Championship, he would have stayed with Ipswich.

"I think it is the only club he would have left Ipswich for because he has had a great time down there and played under two very good managers."

Meanwhile, relegated Crystal Palace have emerged as possible candidates for Shefki Kuqi's signature. The striker, out of contract and available on a Bosman free transfer, has told Town he will not sign a new deal at Portman Road, however, his destination is yet to be confirmed.

Links earlier in the summer suggested that Blackburn might be the strongest contenders, but newspaper reports claim that Palace are frontrunners to sign the Finnish international.

Elsewhere, Everton are understood to be less than keen to sell former Blue Marcus Bent to Manchester City. Stuart Pearce has targeted Bent, valued at £1 million, but David Moyes wants to hang on to the much-travelled frontman.

Should Bent move on, Town will benefit from a sell-on clause in the deal which took the 27-year-old striker to Goodison Park last summer.

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