Leeds United reportedly want to sign the out-of-favour Middlesbrough striker, currently on loan at Sunderland.
According to The Teeside Gazette, Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom will try and sign Middlesbrough dud Ashley Fletcher this summer, if Boro are willing to loan him out.
The 22-year-old was linked with a January move to Leeds, prior to Heckingbottom’s arrival, but wound up joining Sunderland on a half-season loan instead.
However, the former West Ham striker, a £6.5 million signing last summer, has endured a dreadful run of form at the Stadium of Light, netting once in 14 Championship outings.
Having once signed him on loan for Barnsley, former Tykes boss Heckingbottom remains a “big fan” of the towering forward and, according to The Teeside Gazette, will “likely” move to sign him for Leeds if Boro sanction another loan spell.
Fletcher, who was relegated with Sunderland this past weekend, has been repeatedly linked with a move to Elland Road in recent years, but his history with the 40-year-old may add a little more substance to the rumours this time around.
The young attacker had only netted one league goal for Boro prior to his temporary switch to the Black Cats, meaning that he has scored twice in 28 Championship games overall this season.
It’s not a great record and considering Leeds already have a couple of strikers who haven’t hit the heights expected of them, it remains to be seen how fans would react to Fletcher’s potential arrival.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
