Black Cats agree Higginbotham fee

Sunderland have been given permission to discuss personal terms with Danny Higginbotham after agreeing an initial £2.5m fee for the Stoke defender.

Stoke acted when Higginbotham, 28, rejected a contract extension and asked to leave the Britannia stadium.

A club statement said: "We've rejected two transfer offers from Sunderland since their interest became apparent.

"Danny has now submitted a written transfer request and stated he no longer feels committed to the club."

The former Manchester United and Derby defender joined Stoke in August 2006 for £225,000 after rejecting Southampton's contract offer.

Stoke's statement added: "As a result of this, the club has given the player permission to speak to Sunderland following reciept of a third offer from them.

"This offer amounts to a guaranteed £2.5m, along with an additional possible further £500,000 dependant on both Sunderland's and Danny's performance.

"We are hugely disappointed to lose Danny, however it is difficult to keep a player who no longer wants to play for you."

Higginbotham began his career at Manchester United and spent three years at Old Trafford, where Black Cats' boss Roy Keane was a player.