Sunderland and Aston Villa have entered talks about Ross McCormack, with the North East club keen to take the striker on a season-long loan, reports the Daily Mail.

McCormack has been left out of Steve Bruce’s squad for their pre-season tour, and his day at Villa Park seem numbered, just 12-months after he arrived in the Midlands from Fulham.

The 30-year-old has had trouble settling with Villa and was involved in a public falling out with Bruce earlier in 2017, which led to McCormack spending the second-half of the season on-loan with Nottingham Forest.

Simon Grayson is keen to offer McCormack a route out of Villa Park, handing him the opportunity to move to the North East and join Sunderland temporarily.

Grayson and McCormack have previously worked together at Leeds United, and the 47-year-old wants to Scottish striker at the Stadium of Light to replace the prolific Jermain Defoe, who has joined AFC Bournemouth.

Despite struggling to find his best form over the last 12-months, McCormack still has an excellent reputation in the Sky Bet Championship.

During spells with Cardiff City, Leeds and Fulham between 2008 and 2016, the Scottish international scored 116 Championship goals, including 28 for Leeds during the 2013/14 campaign. 

Sunderland fans… What do you make of this news? Does the potential arrival of McCormack excite you? Is he good enough to replace Defoe in the Championship? Let us know your thoughts!