SAM Allardyce is aiming to put the finishing touches to the deal that will bring Sunderland's Brazilian defender Emerson Thome to the Reebok on a free transfer.

The 31-year-old stopper is the man the Wanderers' boss is hoping can shore up a defence that has conceded 10 goals in three matches - twice beaten 4-0 - in a nightmare start to the season.

The manager confirmed that he was hoping to complete just one more deal before Sunday's transfer deadline and that deal is expected to be the one that will put Thome - a no-nonsense centre-back described as a Brazilian "bruiser" - at the heart of his fragile defence.

After that, Wanderers must go with what they have got until the transfer window opens for one month in January.

That was Allardyce's admission after the events at Fratton Park where a 4-0 hammering left the Premiership new boys top and him scathingly critical of his players while sympathising with the hundreds of fans who made the longest haul of the season only to see their team embarrassingly capitulate.

If Wanderers finally manage to land Thome they will have the services of an accomplished central defender Allardyce has monitored for some time and who has proved his fitness after a series of injury problems.

Wanderers have been linked with two other Brazilian defenders - Roque Junior and Julio Cesar - but Thome was always favourite once it was made clear that he was available on a free transfer. Allardyce has made no secret of his need for another quality centre-back, particularly following the retirement of Gudni Bergsson.

But the lack of depth in his defensive ranks was highlighted at Portsmouth where Anthony Barness - brought in ahead of Nicky Hunt - pulled out five minutes before half time and Bruno N'Gotty spent the final minutes of the game in midfield, struggling with a thigh injury.