Former Manchester United striker James Wilson is set to turn down a move to Sunderland in favour of a return to Aberdeen on a permanent deal, The Daily Mail have reported.

Wilson is available on a free transfer following his release from Old Trafford at the end of last season, and it appears he is set to return to Aberdeen, where he spent last season on loan, scoring four goals in 32 appearances in all competitions to help Derek McInnes' side to a fourth place finish in the Scottish Premier League.

Sunderland has also shown an interest in the striker as they look to push for promotion to the Championship again next season, but it appears they are set to miss out with Wilson expected to sign a two year deal at Pittodrie.

This appears not to be the only setback Sunderland have been hit with in their hunt for a striker, with The Scottish Sun reporting that another of their attacking targets, Lawrence Shankland, is set to sign for Scottish Championship side Dundee United on a three year deal.

The verdict

This is a big blow for Sunderland.

The absence of a goalscorer in the second half of last season arguably cost them significantly in the race for automatic promotion, leaving them to face the lottery of the play-off where they ultimately missed out.

Either Wilson or Shankland would have given them a new option to rely on next season, and missing out on the pair is likely to add to the pressure on Will Grigg, who has struggled to really hit the ground running since his arrival from Wigan in January.

That Sunderland have missed out on both signings also has to be a concern for those around the Stadium of Light with regards to going forward in the transfer window, another reminder of the knock on effects of failing to win promotion back to the Championship last season.