Anton Ferdinand is expected to say 'yes' to a move to Sunderland later today.
The 23-year-old centre-half has spent the last 48 hours mulling over a move to the North East after West Ham accepted a bid worth in the region of £8million.Having already rejected the opportunity to move to Newcastle earlier in the summer the former under-21 had been holding out for a possible rival move from Tottenham. However as that failed to materialise he was left with Sunderland as the only option - a move to which he is thought to be ready to rubber-stamp today.
Ferdinand made his debut for the Hammers at Preston on the opening day of the 2003/04 campaign. But it was his partnership with Elliott Ward in the centre of defence the following season that saw him come of age as the Hammers won promotion back to the Premiership.
The following year - 2005/06 - he was again a regular in what was United's first season back in the top flight. However the season ended on a sour note as Ferdinand missed United's final penalty in the 2006 FA Cup Final shootout which led to the trophy going to Liverpool.
Things went from bad to worse the following season for the boy from Peckham when he was arrested and later charged with assault and violent conduct following a fracas outside Face nightclub (he was later acquitted in November 2007).
He was also disciplined by the club after travelling to the USA for a lads' jolly, having told his employers that he was absent from work in order to visit his sick grandmother.
His potential sale has polarised opinion amongst Hammers fans, with just as many being happy to part company with a defender who, they feel, lacks concentration as those disappointed with the club's decision to allow another Academy product to leave the club.
* Sunderland boss Roy Keane has also been linked with a £5million move for Ferdinand's team mate Carlton Cole.
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