As Leeds United battle Sunderland for Ashley Fletcher, are Whites right to renew interest?

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Leeds United are finally hoping to lure Middlesbrough striker Ashley Fletcher to Elland Road but face competition from Championship rivals Sunderland.

Leeds United were confident of signing Ashley Fletcher on loan from West Ham United in the final week of the January 2017 transfer window.

The Mail stated that then-Whites boss Garry Monk was a big fan of the young striker, who had been excited by the idea of playing for a club of Leeds’ stature as he aimed to make his name in the senior game.

But with former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic deciding that Fletcher was part of his immediate plans, the former Manchester United youngster was forced to stay in the capital.

Yet one year on, it appears that a switch to Elland Road is still on the cards for the 22-year-old centre-forward. Because the Sun (21^st January, page 68) reports that Middlesbrough could look to farm out Fletcher just a few months after signing him permanently for £6 million.

And it is understood that Leeds and Championship rivals Sunderland are interested, although Norwich City appear to be leading the race as it stands.

However the harsh reality is that Fletcher has done nothing in the last 12 months to suggest that Leeds would be right to renew their interest. Struggling with West Ham in the Premier League can be overlooked but Fletcher’s anonymity at Middlesbrough should be a cause for concern.

He has started just three Championships games, the last coming in October, and has netted just once in Boro colours.

This, then, should act not only as a word of warning for Leeds but for Sunderland too, who would have to devote a sizeable portion of their limited budget to paying Fletcher’s wages for the rest of the season.