Barring an unexpected hitch, Jon Walters remains on course to join the Irish contingent at Burnley with the clubs having agreed a fee of around €2.3 million plus add-ons that could bring the final figure to €3.5 million over the course of a two-year contract.
Walters had a year left on his existing deal, signed last summer, but in addition to getting two years at Turf Moor it is expected there will be the option of a third - something that might potentially help to extend his international career right up until the next European Championships.
The move would bring to an end a remarkably successful spell at Stoke City, though, with the club having signed the striker for £2.75 million in 2010. He scored 62 goals in 269 appearances during the intervening seven years and would depart the club as its top scorer in the Premier League era.
Burnley, have already signed Charlie Taylor, a well regarded left back from Leeds, this week and the 23-year-old, who was the Player of the Season at Elland Road for 2015/16, will provide added competition for an existing member of the club's Irish contingent, Stephen Ward.
Walters, meanwhile, may well be followed out of the club by Glenn Whelan who Steve Bruce is still keen to bring to Aston Villa. The Championship side had a bid of about €575,000 refused several weeks back but their manager has confirmed this week that he is still interested, as the Dubliner would add "steel, determination and aggression," to his midfield.
Meanwhile Aiden McGeady is set to complete his move to Sunderland over the next 24 hours with Everton having agreed to sell the midfielder, also for around €2.3 million. The 31 year-old is reported to have agreed personal terms.
The Ireland international was expected to join Preston where he did well last season, scoring eight goals in 35 appearances, but with manager Simon Grayson having moved to the north-east in the meantime, McGeady is now expected to link up with him again.
If the deal does go through, McGeady will be playing alongside John O’Shea who returned to training with the club this week after having signed a one-year deal.
There has been growing speculation Robbie Keane will join Birmingham City for a similar period after Harry Redknapp admitted he would like to add the veteran striker to his squad, while Cyrus Christie could be heading to Middlesbrough if Garry Monk can complete a deal for the Derby County right back.
Middlesbrough had been hoping to sign Welsh international Chris Gunther from Reading but appear to have turned their attentions to Christie, who has fallen out of favour at Derby.
