SUNDERLAND // Sunderland expect to complete the signing of the West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand today for a fee in the region of £8 million (Dh54.2m). "Anton is up (in Sunderland) this morning for a medical, we're looking to tie it up today," the Sunderland manager, Roy Keane, said. "I met him last week and it went well. He will be a good addition to our squad and it will keep people on their toes." Ferdinand, the brother of the Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, would be Sunderland's ninth signing of the summer. Keane said he would like to take the number of acquisitions to 10 before the transfer window closes on Monday. "I will be delighted if I can get him (Ferdinand) and another one, and then we can concentrate on the season," Keane said. It looks as though Ferdinand's name will be added to the mass exodus from Upton Park, joining John Pantsil, Bobby Zamora, Richard Wright and Freddie Ljungberg out the door, while striker Craig Bellmy has been linked with a move to Manchester City. The 23-year-old Ferdinand made 163 appearances and scored five goals for his only club since his debut in August 2003. He follows the captures of Teemu Tainio, Nick Colgan, Pascal Chimbonda, El-Hadji Diouf, Steed Malbranque, David Healy, David Meyler and the on-loan Djibril Cisse in joining the Black Cats.
*AP
