Report: Sunderland’s bid to sign Aston Villa outcast Ross McCormack held up – by another Grayson target, Robert Snodgrass

Follow us on Google Discover

Sunderland are reportedly being held up in their bid to sign Ross McCormack.

According to Sky Sports’ Transfer Centre (15:25), Sunderland’s move to sign Aston Villa forward Ross McCormack has been held up – because Villa want Black Cats target Robert Snodgrass signed before agreeing to let McCormack leave.

Sunderland boss Simon Grayson has been busy in the transfer market this summer, snapping up Robbin Ruiter, Jason Steele, Tyias Browning, Brendan Galloway, Aiden McGeady, Lewis Grabban and James Vaughan to boost his squad.

However, with just a week to go until the transfer deadline, Sunderland still need more signings if they are to challenge for promotion, and Grayson again appears to be targeting players he has worked with previously – just as he did with Browning, McGeady and Vaughan.

Sky Sports’ Transfer Centre (15:25) reports that Sunderland are still interested in signing Aston Villa forward Ross McCormack, who is out of favour at Villa Park and appears to have no future under manager Steve Bruce.

McCormack worked with Grayson at Leeds United, and the Scot scored 14 goals under Grayson’s tutelage during the 2011-12 season, before Grayson was sacked by Leeds – and a reunion could be on the cards.

However, the report notes that Villa are stalling on the deal to send McCormack to Sunderland on loan, as they want to make sure that another former Grayson player and current Sunderland target Robert Snodgrass has signed before allowing McCormack to leave.

Last week, Grayson confirmed to The Northern Echo that he is looking to sign Snodgrass, who has been told that he can leave West Ham United just months after joining from Hull City, with the Sunderland boss again keen on a reunion having worked with Snodgrass at Leeds.

However, Sunderland were always going to struggle to meet the financial demands to sign Snodgrass, and it appears that Villa are leading the race, with a deal potentially reuniting the Scotland international with his former Hull boss Steve Bruce.

Should Snodgrass join Villa imminently, it may well free up McCormack to join Sunderland, handing Grayson a boost to his attacking options this season.