Sunderland have agreed to sign Enzo Le Fee from Roma, talkSPORT understands.
The midfielder is set to complete a move to the Black Cats just six months after joining Roma from Rennes.
Le Fee will join a Sunderland side who are fourth in the Championship and in contention for promotion to the Premier League.
He will initially sign on loan, but there is a £20million obligation to buy included in the deal should they return to the English top flight.
It marks a huge statement of intent from Sunderland and Le Fee would be a club record arrival if they achieve promotion.
If promoted, the move would become one of the most expensive completed by a newly-promoted Premier League side.
Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris worked with the 24-year-old FC Lorient, with whom the latter won Ligue 2 in the 2019/20 season.
Le Fee made 142 appearances for Lorient ahead of a move to Rennes in 2023 where he spent one season.
Roma then signed him for a reported £19.3million fee in July, though he has made just four starts in Serie A this season.
A move to Sunderland is now on the horizon as they look to end their Premier League exile this season.
They endured back-to-back relegations following their top flight exit in 2017 and spent four seasons in League One.
Sunderland returned to the Championship in 2022 and reached the play-offs in their first season back but lost to Luton Town.
A difficult 2023/24 campaign saw them finish 16th, with Le Bris being announced as their new head coach in the summer.
With 26 games played, Sunderland sit comfortably in the play-off spots and are just four points behind leaders Leeds United.
They have won five of their last eight Championship fixtures, with defeat coming just once during that run.
Fellow promotion hopefuls Burnley are their next opponents after an FA Cup third round clash at home to Stoke City on Saturday.
Sunderland’s pursuit of Premier League football could now be aided by the arrival of Le Fee this month.
It’s a move that could see him play alongside Jobe Bellingham in the midfield, although he too is linked with a January transfer.
talkSPORT understands Crystal Palace are showing renewed interest in the 19-year-old, who is valued at £20million by Sunderland.
As such, Le Fee could end up being a succession plan for Bellingham.