Mannone looks like heading to the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland have had an offer for goalkeeper Vito Mannone accepted by Arsenal, as the Black Cats look for a replacement for Simon Mignolet after selling the Belgian to Liverpool, reports the Sunderland Echo.
Mannone only has one-year remaining on his current deal at the Emirates Stadium and manager Arsene Wenger needs to cash-in on the Italian this summer or lose him for free in 12 months time.
The 25-year-old has been at the Gunners for eight years following a £400,000 switch from Atalanta in 2005, but has since had loan spells at Barnsley and Hull City.
The ‘keeper has failed to establish himself as a regular choice under Wenger during his time in north London and is currently third in the pecking order at the club behind Wojniech Sczczesny and Lukasz Fabianski.
However, the 2012/13 campaign was the most fruitful for Mannone with doubts raised over Szczesny’s potential as a No.1 and the Italian started 13 matches including nine in the Premier League – his best seasons stats at Arsenal.
Sunderland meanwhile are looking for other alternatives between the sticks after selling coveted stopper Mignolet to Liverpool in a £9m deal.
Therefore manager Paolo Di Canio has significant funds to play with, although would rather not spend big on a ‘keeper with Kieren Westwood already at the Stadium of Light.
It’s likely that Westwood and Mannone would be challenging directly with each other to establish themselves as first choice and with just 12 months remaining on the former Italy under-21 international’s contract, Di Canio could snap him up at a bargain price.
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