Sunderland have reportedly had a £12million bid accepted for Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch, while Fulham also remain in the hunt for the England international.

The Daily Mail claims that cash-strapped Pompey have accepted the big-money offer from the Black Cats and that Steve Bruce will now hold talks with the beanpole hitman to persuade him to join his mini revolution at the Stadium of Light.

Bruce has been tracking Crouch, 28, since he arrived on Wearside from Wigan last month and believes the former Liverpool ace, who bagged 16 goals for Pompey last season following his £11million switch from Anfield, can be the man to fire his side into the higher echelons of the Premier League next season.

Bruce is expected to face a battle on his hands in persuading Crouch to swap the South Coast for a move to the North East with the 6ft 7in forward said to prefer a move to Fulham, who The Sun claim are preparing an offer of their own.

Although new Sunderland owner Ellis Short is prepared to meet Crouch's £70,000-a-week demands, making him the highest paid player in club's history, the Cottagers would appear to be in pole position as the player is said to favour a move to London while they can also offer him European football.

However, any move from Roy Hodgson's men is believed to hinge on the club selling £5million-rated Bobby Zamora to Hull City and with that deal still to be concluded, Sunderland may well have the upper hand.