Sunderland have clinched the signing of one of their major transfer targets, with Blackburn striker Jon Stead completing a £1.8million move to the Stadium of Light, writes David Vincent.

Sunderland have clinched the signing of one of their major transfer targets, with Blackburn striker Jon Stead completing a £1.8million move to the Stadium of Light, writes David Vincent.

And Mick McCarthy is also closing in on Ipswich Town keeper Kelvin Davis, having agreed a fee of around £1million with the Blues No. 1. His transfer looks imminent.

Last week, Davis insisted the move was still on, with only his personal details to be sorted out.

Stead was also a target for Charlton Athletic but, having missed out on Darren Bent to Alan Curbishley, this time McCarthy got his man.

The 22-year-old striker, who opted for Ewood Park rather than Wearside when he left hometown club Huddersfield in January last year, signed a four-year deal to hand the Black Cats' boss a major breakthrough.

Stead said: “It feels fantastic to be a Sunderland player.

“Everything was a bit of a shock, but I am finally putting on the red and white after wearing blue and white in my career, so I am delighted and looking forward to it.

“I had a choice between Sunderland and Charlton, I spoke to both parties and had a look around. It was just the feeling I got when I came here, when I saw the training ground and stadium, and especially after speaking to the manager.

“He assured me this was the place to be, and I am sure it is. It is a massive club, a Premiership club and I have every confidence we will be a Premiership club for many seasons to come.

“I would not have come here if I did not think 100% we can do it.”

Stead's decision brings a successful conclusion to McCarthy's pursuit of a player who has been capped at under-21 level by England and adds strength to a strike-force that has been ripped apart since the end of last season with the departures of Marcus Stewart, Brian Deane and Michael Bridges.

Stead becomes the club's third summer signing, after Waterford striker Daryl Murphy and Gillingham full-back Nyron Nosworthy.