Crystal Palace’s Premier League forgotton man Connor Wickham has been linked with Championship giants Boro as well as League One Sunderland.
The prospect of Connor Wickham returning to Sunderland in January has certainly captured the imagination.
According to TEAMtalk, the Black Cats are keen to re-sign a player they bought for £7 million back in 2015 with Jack Ross’ side well placed to seal an immediate return to the Championship after successive relegations.
Sunderland have been tipped to make a marquee striker signing for a number of weeks and Wickham, despite only recently returning for Crystal Palace after almost two years out with injury, would represent exactly that.
And the Wearside giants have been handed another incentive to bring Wickham back to the Stadium of Light.
It is understood that Sunderland’s local rivals Middlesbrough are also interested in signing the former Ipswich Town wonderkid and the prospect of derailing their neighbours’ own promotion bid will make Wickham’s return even more well received.
Middlesbrough’s form has collapsed in recent weeks and only five teams in the Championship have scored fewer than their 24 goals in 22 matches. A strong, physical centre-forward like Wickham looks a perfect fit for Tony Pulis and could give Boro a timely boost with their place in the play-offs under threat.
Now, if Sunderland win the race for Wickham they could not only enhance their own title challenge but help to scupper Boro’s.
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