The usually reliable France Football is reporting that Sunderland’s French midfielder, El-Hadji Ba, is set to join the Addicks.

Ba had attracted attention from Tottenham before joining Sunderland from Le Havre as a 20-year-old in the summer of 2013.

A central midfielder by trade, Ba has struggled to cement a place in Sunderland’s first team, and spent the 2013/14 campaign on loan at top flight French side, Bastia.

He is of Senegalese decent and has been capped by France at Under-18, 19 and 20 level.

He would join Jordan Cousins, fellow Frenchman Alou Diarra, and skipper Johnnie Jackson, as engine room options for Guy Luzon.

The players report back to Sparrows Lane to begin pre-season training on Monday and it promises to be a busy week on the player front.

Winger, Frederic Bulot, should complete a permanent move to The Valley during the week and there could be another new face or two arriving.