Wolves are closing in on a £1.5m deal for Sunderland defender Danny Higginbotham – and the signing should be sealed when the Black Cats sign Anton Ferdinand.

North-east sources say the Higginbotham transfer has been agreed in principle, pending Sunderland signing a replacement for him.

Wolves, irritated their search has been made public, are playing their cards close their chests.

They maintain Higginbotham is one of “two or three” targets, but believe a player signed for £2.5m a year ago will cost slightly more than the £1.25m quoted yesterday.

But a positive decision from Ferdinand should see things fall into place.

Roy Keane has reportedly had an £8m bid accepted by West Ham for Ferdinand, but with reports that Tottenham could now enter the bidding, the player’s arrival on Wearside is by no means cut and dried.

And until Sunderland replenish their defence – they currently have just five defenders – Keane won’t allow the versatile Higginbotham to leave.

Stoke are also rumoured to be interested in the 29-year-old, who made 21 League appearances for Sunderland last season.

But Higginbotham, who can also play left-back, is understood not to be keen to join the Potteries club.

McCarthy’s move for Higginbotham after losing Jody Craddock for three months would end a summer-long search which has seen him miss out Hearts’ Christophe Berra and Jason Shackell from Norwich.