Roy Keane Takes Chance on Michael Chopra

Sunderland's search for a new striker seems to be finally at an end today after the club agreed a £5m fee with Cardiff City for Michael Chopra

Chopra signed for the Welsh side from Newcastle for just £500,000 last summer but then sent his value soaring by hitting 22 goals in his 42 Championship appearances. Provided the player passes a medical and agrees personal terms, he will become Roy Keane's third signing of the summer.

"I am sorry to see him go, everybody in the camp is," said Cardiff manager Dave Jones. "But at the end of the day there is a price for every player. The money could go on to make us stronger. This is good business for us and after all, we are in a business. And for Michael it means Premiership football - we cannot stop him. We wish him all the best with Sunderland."

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad have confirmed that midfielder Mikel Alonso will play on loan at Bolton next season. Mikel, brother of Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, had a trial with the club during their pre-season training trip to Austria last week.

"Real Sociedad and Bolton Wanderers have reached an agreement which will see Mikel Alonso play at Bolton Wanderers on loan for the 2007-08 campaign," read a Sociedad statement. "In the agreement, the English club will have an option to buy the player before May 2008."

The 27-year-old made his Primera Liga debut for Sociedad in 2001 and since then has been a regular for the Basque side. Real Sociedad were relegated to the Segunda Liga last season for the first time in 40 years.

Rangers are set to sign Lee McCulloch from Wigan today after agreeing a fee for the Scotland international. The 29-year-old should be available to take part in Rangers' pre-season trip to Germany and could make his debut in Friday's match against FC Gutersloh.