Source: Team_Talk
Chamakh would relish Cats switch
Arsenal, Blackburn, Spurs and Fulham have all been credited with an interest in Chamakh this summer but the player himself claims it is Sunderland that are in pole position to sign him.
Chamakh told L'Equipe: "The most advanced contact is with Sunderland.
"If for some people it isn't a very big club, it is suitable for me. I know it can be a step up and that is my wish."
Bordeaux are resigned to losing a player they would like to keep hold of, while Lyon's hopes of persuading him to stay in France look doomed to failure.
Sunderland's interest in the £8million-rated Morocco international is genuine and ongoing, and Bruce will hope for good news on the transfer front as he and his players prepare to head from their training camp in Portugal to the Amsterdam Tournament, where they open their campaign against Benfica on Friday.
Sunderland also retain an interest in Tottenham's Darren Bent and the door could be opened on that move if Peter Crouch, who was also a Black Cats' target, moves to White Hart Lane.
There has been contact between the two clubs since the end of last season, although with Spurs wanting to recoup as much as they can of the £16.5million they paid Charlton for his services two summers ago, the asking price is reportedly in excess of the £12million Sunderland were prepared to pay for Crouch.
