Sunderland are pushing for an instant return to the Championship.
Sunderland’s promotion push remains on track as they sit in third place in League One, with two games in hand over second-placed Luton Town and first-placed Portsmouth – but a striker is desperately needed.
Jerome Sinclair’s display in the FA Cup last week against Walsall summed up his loan spell at the Stadium of Light so far, as the Watford striker continues to struggle on Wearside.
Target man Charlie Wyke was signed from Bradford but he has managed just four appearances for the Black Cats – scoring once. Only Josh Maja is in form for Sunderland in attack, scoring 12 goals this season.
But Jack Ross’ side need to take the pressure off of the teenage striker, and the only way the Scottish manager can do that is by bringing in a new forward – and the club have been linked with luring Connor Wickham back to the club.
TeamTalk claim Sunderland want the 25-year-old who has managed just one minute of football this season, after finally overcoming injury to come on as a substitute against Everton in October.
He has been left out of the Crystal Palace side since, but was named on the bench for the first time since his cameo role on Saturday as Palace beat Leicester City 1-0.
Wickham clocked up 91 appearances for Sunderland before joining Palace for £9million (Telegraph) back in 2015, and he could now be set for a dramatic return to the north east.
But it is Wickham’s form in the Football League that will make him an excellent signing. Though he has never featured in the third tier of English football, he has 22 goals in 87 Championship fixtures.
A proven scorer in the Championship and indeed in the Premier League, Wickham will have no problem finding the back of the net in League One and that will make him an excellent January signing.
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