:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15967755/20130621_kkt_ai4_516.0.jpg)
In a quickly developing story, Sunderland have agreed a deal to sign Jozy Altidore from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.
The news was announced on the striker's own official website (though removed shortly afterwards), where it revealed the 23-year-old will move to the north east after he passes his medical, which is scheduled to take place on Monday. No details regarding the size of the fee have yet emerged.
Earlier today Earnie Stewart, AZ's Director of Football confirmed that talks between the two clubs were ongoing, but those talks have obviously reached a conclusion quickly.
A transfer for the American always looked quite likely, but with the Sunderland squad jetting off this weekend for their Italian training camp it will come as a boost for the Black Cats to now be able to include their top summer striker target in a huge part of their preparations for the season.
Most will remember Altidore from a highly unspectacular spell in England with Hull City as a teenager, but his stock has risen considerably since then.
Our instinct is that this will be a very good signing. He has matured considerably since first coming to Europe and he offers the kind of threat no one else currently can in the Sunderland attack.
Let's hope for a swift conclusion. In the meantime, here is a video if the man himself in action.