Brighton and Hove Albion have offered Sunderland goalkeeper Jason Steele a three-year deal ahead of his proposed switch to the Premier League, a reliable football journalist is reporting.

According to Alan Nixon, Steele is set to move to Brighton and the funds raised from his sale will allow Sunderland to purchase a couple of cheap new players.

Steele joined Sunderland last season following their relegation to the Championship but him, Lee Camp and Robbin Ruiter all failed to impress the fans between the sticks as the club were relegated to the third tier.

Ahead of their campaign in League One, the Black Cats are willing to let the 27-year-old leave with a Premier League move on the cards.

Brighton are looking for a back-up choice to deputise for Australia international Mat Ryan after releasing Tim Krul.

Steele's move would allow young goalkeeper Christian Walton, 21, to return to Wigan Athletic on a season long loan deal, as per HITC Sport.

Sunderland's sale of the 27-year-old would leave them with two goalkeepers in their ranks: Robbin Ruiter and youngster Max Stryjek.

Whether these two cheap deals that Nixon talks about would be for goalkeepers is not yet clear.

The Verdict

After suffering relegation with Blackburn Rovers and then Sunderland - failing to impress at either club - it is really a miracle that Steele has ended up in the top flight.

The former England under-21 international has been poor for a long while and Sunderland fans will be glad to see the back of him.

I think they'd rather see young Stryjek given a chance than keep Steele so this is great business by Jack Ross.

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