text: Craig Gardner: Sunderland midfielder looks set for move to West Brom
  
  The 27-year-old is a free agent after leaving Sunderland and has long been linked with a return to the Midlands.
  
  The former Aston Villa and Birmingham City man is now in talks about a move to The Hawthorns.
  
  He is expected to undergo a medical this week and finalise a deal in the coming days.
  
  Gardner has been with Sunderland since 2011 and played 100 games for the Wearsiders, but he was not offered a new deal by boss Gus Poyet.