The 28-year-old flew into Newcastle International Airport with his agent Jonathan Barnett this morning to hold talks with the Black Cats after they agreed a fee with Portsmouth late last night.

However, it is understood that Fulham and Tottenham are also interested in the 28-year-old, and that London may be his preferred destination.

Indeed, he is expected to talk to Fulham tomorrow after leaving the north-east with no decision made.

But speaking after tonight's 4-0 friendly victory at League Two Darlington, Bruce said: "We have spoken to him today with his agent. It was good to see him up here. Let's keep our fingers crossed now.

"I believe there's a bit of competition in there, but let's keep our fingers crossed because he is the type of signing that would obviously set our intentions of where we want to be.

"But we will see what develops over the next 24, 48 hours."

Asked if he felt the talks had gone well, Bruce, who will take his squad to Portugal at the weekend, replied: "I am always an optimist - I hope so, but we will keep our fingers crossed.

"We have had him up, we have done our utmost, the club has backed me. We have done everything we possibly can and if we can pull it off, it will be a terrific signing for the club.

"The intention is there for everybody to see. I have got him a bit of sun tan lotion for Portugal - I'll see him on the beach!

"I think we will know in the next 48 hours."

Crouch began his career as a trainee at White Hart Lane, but never made a senior appearance.

But he has worked under Spurs boss Harry Redknapp twice before, at Southampton and Pompey.

However, it is understood Fulham may be next to get the chance to tempt him away from Fratton Park.

Questioned about the link with Fulham, Bruce said: "So I am led to believe.

"I didn't bring that into the equation, I just showed him what we had to offer and what a football club we had.

"Location is the big thing, probably, in it, but we will do our utmost - and we have. That's all we can do."

Meanwhile, Bruce confirmed that Daryl Murphy's proposed move to Hull had collapsed because the Irishman could not agree personal terms, while skipper Dean Whitehead was withdrawn from the squad for tonight's game as Stoke attempted to wrap up a deal for him.

A Matty Plummer own goal and strikes from Kieran Richardson, Paul McShane and Roy O'Donovan handed Bruce a first victory as Sunderland boss, but his evening was marred by a knee injury to McShane.

The Republic of Ireland international will have a scan tomorrow, but cartilage damage is suspected, and that could be bad news for his country as well as his club with Giovanni Trapattoni's men facing a crucial World Cup qualifier in Cyprus in September.

Bruce said: "He will have a scan tomorrow. We have taken him home and he will have some sort of scan tomorrow. We will not know the extent until we get the result of that.

"It could be cartilage damage, it's as serious as that. That's what our fear is."