Sunderland manager Roy Keane yesterday pushed through his second summer transfer deal as Scotland international Russell Anderson clinched a £1 million move to Wearside.
The 28-year-old central defender has signed a three-year deal at the Stadium of Light after travelling south for talks and a medical.
Born in Aberdeen, Anderson made 320 senior appearances and scored 19 goals for his hometown club, which awarded him a testimonial last season.
However, the chance to test himself in the Premier League proved too much for the Aberdeen captain to resist.
He said: "I am hugely excited. It's a big club going places and it's exciting times to be coming here, so I am certainly looking forward to the challenge ahead.
"It's all happened quite quickly. I have been on holiday and I took a call from my agent last week saying Sunderland were interested. Then it was just a case of seeing if the two clubs could agree a fee."
Keane, who saw Anderson at close hand during his time at Celtic, was happy to have added an experienced defender to his squad following his £3 million capture of Reading full back Greg Halford.
He told the club's official website: "We have had him watched a number of times and know all about the kind of player and character he is. He has a lot of experience and will provide competition for places at the back."
Jonny Evans's return to Manchester United after a hugely successful loan spell on Wearside left a sizeable gap in Keane's defence, and he will hope Anderson can help fill it as he pursues his remaining targets.
He is awaiting a response from Preston striker David Nugent after talks with the 22-year-old last Friday - and is keen to press home his interest as the start of pre-season training approaches.
Keane has also been linked with, among others, a £5 million swoop for West Brom duo Paul McShane and Paul Robinson, while his pursuit of a goalkeeper is no secret with Liverpool's Scott Carson and Hearts' Craig Gordon reportedly on his list after Jussi Jaaskelainen signalled his intention to see out the final year of his Bolton contract.
Sven-Goran Eriksson has identified Nigel Reo-Coker as the man to replace Joey Barton as part of his £50 million rebuilding plan at Manchester City. The midfielder, who asked for a transfer from West Ham United at the end of last season, has already spoken to Aston Villa and City have registered a firm interest in the England under-21 captain.
The former England manager is working through a list of targets as he waits to be confirmed as Stuart Pearce's successor, an announcement that will come when Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has built the 75 per cent stake necessary to take the club off the stock market. Sky yesterday agreed to sell Thaksin its 9.9 per cent stake and Eriksson's arrival should be confirmed in the next few days.
Wigan have signed Carlo Nash for £300,000 on a two-year deal from Preston. The 33-year-old goalkeeper was put on the transfer list after publicly asking for a move to Fulham in January.
Meanwhile, Birmingham City's boardroom welcomed a new face yesterday, and possibly a new owner, when the Hong Kong-based businessman Carson Yeung acquired a 29.9 per cent stake in the club. Yeung stopped short of launching a full-scale takeover bid, but the agreement reached with Birmingham's hierarchy will see him become the single biggest shareholder and also paves the way for greater control in the future.
Yeung will pay £15 million for the shares which Birmingham's owners, David Sullivan and the Gold brothers - David and Ralph - have agreed to sell. Sullivan and the Golds will each part with a 14.81 per cent stake in the club.
