Sunderland Transfer News: O'Neill Closing In On Grant Holt? [UPDATED]

UPDATE: Norwich City have now confirmed that Holt has signed a new contract with the club. Sunderland are said to be leading the race to sign want-away Norwich City centre-forward Grant Holt, after potential moves to both Aston Villa and West Ham faltered, according to Talksport's on-air news. Boss Martin O'Neill is looking to add Holt's physical presence to his forward line after losing loanee Nicklas Bendter in the close season when he returned to parent club Arsenal, and with Asamoah Gyan likely to make a permanent move to Al Ain the North East club's resources in attack will be further depleted. O'Neill can currently only call upon Connor Whickham, Fraizer Campbell and Ji Dong-Won, and will look to bolster his options this summer before the season opener against Arsenal at the Emirates, after previously being linked with a move for free agent Emile Heskey. Holt looks set to leave Norwich City after handing in a transfer request and turning down the club's offer of a new contract, after the refusal of the club's board to offer him the extended contract he requested, due to his age. He will likely command a reasonable fee, and with Ellis Short keen to go for deals that offer value for money, O'Neill will no doubt have some negotiating to do to keep the fee under the £5m mark. He enjoyed a strong season last year as Norwich defied expectations to stay in the Premier League after promotion, scoring 17 goals in 37 games to take his overall record to 60 goals in 120 appearances since joining from Shrewsbury Town. Holt has previously been linked to Aston Villa - a move which brought about rumours that Sunderland were about to try and sign Gabi Agbonlahor - and Sam Allardyce's ambitious West Ham, who have been linked with a host of attackers already this summer. Sunderland fans: what do you think of this proposed move? Would you welcome Holt to the Stadium of Light? Share your thoughts below.