Sunderland AFC news: Automatic promotion rivals face potential goalkeeping crisis, League One club concludes £40m takeover deal, Newcastle United 'leading the race' for third tier starlet

It is the latest in a run of crucial fixtures in League One for Sunderland following a win against Oxford United on Good Friday and a point against promotion-chasing Peterborough United.

The draw against Posh means that Sunderland are still just two points behind second-placed Posh with a game in hand on Darren Ferguson’s side.

Indeed, the Black Cats have two games in hand on league-leaders Hull City and are five points behind Grant McCann’s side with a game to play against the Tigers.

In short, promotion to the Championship is in Sunderland’s hands.

Here, though, we take you through all of the latest news and talk from across the division that you make have missed today:

Sunderland's potential promotion rivals in League One conclude £40m takeover deal

Sunderland’s rivals in League One Ipswich Town have been taken over this afternoon.

The deal ends the 13-year tenure of previous owner Marcus Evans with three board members of US club Phoenix Rising now involved at the club.

It is said that Evans has sold Ipswich Town to the new group for a deal worth around £40million.

Evans, though, will hold 5% of the new company.

But ultimate control of Ipswich will be handed to an Ohio-based investment fund named ORG, which oversees a large US pension fund and owns 90% of Gamechanger 20.

Mike O’Leary, the former West Brom CEO, will be the League One club’s new chairman as they push for promotion back to the Championship

Ipswich Town recently appointed Paul Cook to replace Paul Lambert.

Indeed, the former Wigan and Portsmouth boss is eyeing a late charge for the play-offs, where the Tractor Boys could potentially meet Sunderland.

North East rivals Newcastle United ‘leading the race’ for highly-rated League One starlet

Newcastle lead Celtic in the race to sign Wigan Athletic forward Kyle Joseph.

The Magpies are said to have hijacked their bid with a significantly bigger compensation package, according to The Mail Online,

The 19-year-old is out of contract in the summer.

But reports today have suggested that Newcastle and are said to be favourites to secure his signature with Celtic also interested.

The Mail state that the North East club are said to be willing to pay £850,000 for the Scotland youth international

Celtic, on the other hand, are offering around £230,000 to bring him to Parkhead.

Promotion rivals Peterborough United suffer potential injury blow ahead of crucial League One run-in

Peterborough United’s untested backup goalkeeper Dan Gyollai could be thrust into the heat of a League One promotion battle.

Our sister publication the Peterborough Telegraph reports that first choice number one Christy Pym is due to have a scan on a hip injury picked up in Monday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland.

If Pym is ruled out short-term Hungarian youth international Gyollai, 24, would be handed a first career Football League start at Swindon on Saturday.

Posh may dip into the emergence loan market if Pym is ruled out for the remainder of the season.

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