Jermain Defoe is expected to become a Sunderland player on Friday after the final details of his transfer were tied up.
However, the Black Cats are waiting for Jozy Altidore‘s proposed swap-move to Toronto to be processed before making an announcement.
Press Association Sport understands the Defoe end of the deal is in place, but Altidore only flew to Canada on Thursday to push through his return to the MLS with Toronto five hours behind England.
Sources on Wearside were not envisaging any late hitches, and remain hopeful that 32-year-old Defoe could make his debut against former club Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
It is understood that the transfer will be a straight swap between the England international and his USA counterpart, with both men having been wooed with hugely attractive salary packages.
Defoe would return to the Premier League after just 11 months in Canada despite signing a four-year deal, while Altidore is just 18 months into a similar length contract, but has struggled to hit the heights since his £6.5m arrival at the Stadium of Light from Dutch club AZ during the summer of 2013.
