FORMER Stoke City captain Danny Higginbotham is close to completing a return to the club from Sunderland.

Stoke are expected to beat Wolves to the signature of the 29-year-old defender, who left the Potters for the Stadium of Light in a £2.5m deal 12 months ago.

Stoke are trying to tie up the deal before the transfer window closes at midnight.

City are also interested in Ipswich forward Jon Walters and Cardiff winger Joe Ledley... and have been linked with a move for Liverpool wideman Jermaine Pennant.

Higginbotham's arrival will complete an overhaul of the defence which won promotion for City in May, as Abdoulaye Faye, Ibrahima Sonko and Andrew Davies have also been recruited in the last three weeks to give City strength in depth at the back.

Davies can also play at right-back, so Higginbotham's ability to play at left-back opens the possibility of all four new signings lining up in the same defence.

Higginbotham was a huge success in his last spell at Stoke, after being recruited for just £225,000 from Southampton two years ago.

He started 45 league games in his year with the Potters before he was offered the chance of Premier League football with Sunderland.

City have been linked with Higginbotham throughout the summer and now look like finally getting their man.