Sunderland manager Jack Ross has confirmed for the first time that the club are looking to sign Wigan Athletic striker Will Grigg, reports James Hunter of the Chronicle. 

Grigg has fallen out of favour under Paul Cook this season and has been linked with a move to the Stadium of Light for a few weeks now, with a transfer now looking inevitable.

"We need another player in an attacking area," Ross told his press conference on Monday.

"Ideally a striker.

"Naturally, we don’t want to lose anybody because while they’ve had some criticism of late, we are in a good position going into the final months of the season."

Hunter confirmed that Ross had stated his interest in the Latics forward personally.

Grigg has a startling record when it comes to League One football, scoring 96 goals in 260 appearances across spells with Wigan, Walsall and MK Dons.

In his last two spells in the division, he has scored 19 and 21 goals respectively so it is no surprise to see Ross chasing the Northern Irishman so relentlessly.

The Black Cats were held to a 1-1 draw by Scunthorpe United on Saturday falling further behind in the race for automatic promotion after Luton saw off Peterborough with ease.

The verdict 

What a coup this would be.

Grigg will be disappointed to be shipped out to League One again I am sure, but the fact of the matter is that he is exceptional in the third tier.

You would have to fancy Sunderland to burst into the automatic places if he is to sign.