Sunderland close in on new keeper after tying up cut-price Bramble deal

Steve Bruce is closing in on David James after completing a cut-price swoop for Titus Bramble.

Bruce yesterday agreed a knock-down £1m fee with Wigan for their 28-year-old centre half who is set to join Sunderland’s pre-season trip to Portugal once he passes a medical.

Bruce is also keen to snap up in-demand James who is a free agent after his contract with Portsmouth expired at the end of last season.

James, who turns 40 next month, travelled to Portugal yesterday for talks with Bruce who is desperate for a top quality keeper after first choice Craig Gordon broke his arm and is out for the start of the season.

England keeper James is in demand this summer after relegated Portsmouth said they would not offer him a new deal.

Celtic, West Ham and Fulham are all watching developments and James has met with Neil Lennon who is currently leading the chase and hoping to lure him to Scotland.

But Bruce has re-entered the race, having tried to get him but struggled because Scottish international Gordon would limit his first team opportunities.

But as soon as Gordon’s injury happened this week, Bruce immediately tried to make the deal happen as he firmly believes James can play for at least another two seasons in the top flight.

James was one of few England players to come out of the World Cup with credit and is still in demand but Fulham and West Ham could be dependent on their respective first choices Mark Schwarzer and Robert Green moving on this summer.

Arsenal want veteran Schwarzer while West Ham could be tempted to sell Green for the right price if they felt they could bring in James. But Celtic are keen to recruit him as a first choice and replacement for Artur Boruc.

Bruce believes James would be a good piece of business while he also regards Bramble as a bargain as the ex-Ipswich and Newcastle defender only has a year to run on his contract.

Despite struggling to get rid of his reputation for being error-prone, Bramble was a big favourite of Bruce’s during their time together at Wigan.

Bruce now wants Bramble at Sunderland especially as he is ready to offload Anton Ferdinand and John Mensah has returned to Lyon after a loan spell at the Stadium of Light. They only want to offer Mensah a short term deal.