Sunderland's striker search has seen them turn to Ashley Fletcher of their North East rivals Middlesbrough, according to the Northern Echo. 

The Black Cats have lost the only two experienced strikers they had on their books at the start of the transfer window.

Lewis Grabban, who is still the club's top scorer with 12 goals, returned to parent club, Premier League Bournemouth, while James Vaughan chose to drop down a league rather than stay in the relegation fight, signing for Wigan, having only joined the club in the summer.

That means Chris Coleman, who has already revealed he is strapped for cash in this January transfer window, is desperately hunting for a new striker and he is looking close to home.

It has not worked out all that well for Fletcher at the Riverside since joining from West Ham in the summer for £6.5m and he is the latest man under consideration for the centre forward's position at the Stadium of Light.

The Verdict

He has been awful for Boro - it not clear what he adds to the team or why he cost so much money. He would be under massive pressure to perform if he came from a local rival to struggling Sunderland and I'm not sure he would live up to it.

If Fletcher is the only experienced forward available to Coleman then I could see why he would go for him but I would stay clear otherwise.

Sunderland fans? Would you like to take someone from Boro to help your promotion push? Is Fletcher the man to fire the goals that keep you up? Let us know in the comments below...