By Wayne Veysey

25th Jan, 2022 | 12:12pm

Sources: Tranmere Rovers agree to re-sign Sunderland star Hawkes

Sunderland winger Josh Hawkes has agreed to re-sign for Tranmere Rovers on a permanent deal, Football Insider understands.

The 22-year-old spent the first half of the season on loan at Tranmere before he was recalled by Sunderland earlier this month.

A recruitment source has told Football Insider that the League Two outfit have been pushing hard for a new Hawkes deal and have now reached an agreement with the north-east outfit.

The transfer to the Merseyside club is now set to be completed ahead of Monday’s cut-off.

Hawkes made 17 appearances in the first half of the season on loan, scoring one goal and providing three assists for Micky Mellon’s side.

Hawkes’ contract at the Stadium of Light expires at the end of the campaign.

The Stockton-on-Tees-born wide man came through the ranks at Hartlepool, where he scored 13 times in 62 appearances.

He made the short journey to Sunderland in September 2020 when his Hartlepool deal came to an end.

The majority of Hawkes’ appearances in Sunderland colours have come for the development side.

He scored 14 goals and registered seven assists in 22 outings for the Black Cats under-23s.

He has three senior appearances for the club to his name, including a 10-minute cameo in the 3-1 defeat to Lincoln City on 11 January.

The versatile midfielder scored his only senior Sunderland goal in the League Cup against Port Vale earlier this term.

Sunderland and Tranmere are both 2nd in League One and League Two respectively.

In other news, Kevin Phillips fears Sunderland could repeat transfer mistake after Jermain Defoe update.