Report shares how Bolton Wanderers have responded to Sunderland’s Gary Madine interest

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Cash-strapped Sunderland have reportedly turned their attention towards Bolton Wanderers striker Gary Madine.

It’s a damning indictment of Sunderland’s financial situation that they may struggle to afford a striker who has scored just six goals in 20 games this season.

The Sunderland Echo reported on Wednesday that Bolton Wanderers striker Gary Madine had emerged as a potential low-cost target for new Black Cats boss Simon Grayson in the January transfer window.

But the Bolton News is now reporting that Sunderland’s fellow strugglers are confident of keeping hold of their number one striker. Bolton have doubts that the Wearsiders have the necessary financial power to tempt them into selling Madine, who only signed a new deal in the summer at the Macron Stadium.

And though the 27-year-old, who is interestingly a boyhood Newcastle United fanatic, has been far from prolific this season, it is unlikely that Wanderers will sell one of their key players to a team who appears likely to fight them for Championship survival in a few months’ time.

It appears that Sunderland, then, will have to look elsewhere as Coleman aims to add some much-needed firepower to his squad.

Lewis Grabban (above, far right) is by far and away Sunderland’s top scorer with ten, more than double the club’s next most prolific marksman Aiden McGeady. But the loanee’s days at the Stadium of Light may be numbered with parent club Bournemouth able to re-call him in January, as reported by TEAMtalk.