... but the Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge in on Wearside this morning as he closes in on a loan move to Sunderland.
Press Association Sport understands the 31-year-old former England international is due to undergo a medical on the final day of the January transfer window.
Bridge has played just 78 minutes of senior football this season after slipping down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium.
His only appearance of the campaign to date came in a 2-0 Carling Cup third-round victory over Birmingham on September 21.
Bridge joined City from Chelsea in a £12million move in January 2009, but has managed only 58 appearances in his three years with the club.
Bridge has 30 senior England caps.