Sunderland are targeting the permanent signing of Leeds United full-back Lewie Coyle in the January transfer window, a report from a print edition of The Sun on Sunday (05/01, p61) has claimed.

Coyle has been out of the picture for some time at Elland Road, having spent the last two and a half seasons on loan in League One with Fleetwood Town, during which time he has made 121 appearances in all competitions for the Cod Army.

That loan is set to come to an end this month, and with Coyle's contract with Leeds set to expire at the end of this season, it seems the Championship promotion chasers could be ready to let the defender leave on a permanent basis in January.

That is something that has seemingly caught the attention of Sunderland, with manager Phil Parkinson reportedly keen to bring Coyle to the Stadium of Light, as he looks to add an established right-back to his side.

Securing a deal may not be all that simple for Sunderland however, with fellow League One side Blackpool having also been credited with an interest in Coyle, while Fleetwood are said to be keen to make the 24-year-old's move to Highbury a permanent one.

The Verdict

I think this could be a really good signing for Sunderland.

Coyle has plenty of experience at this level thanks to his time at Fleetwood, and when you consider how impressive he has been during that time, it certainly looks as though he could provide some welcome stability for them in that area of the pitch.

However, it wouldn't surprise me if this is a deal Sunderland find difficult to secure, given Coyle may well be tempted to remain at Fleetwood, considering how well he has established himself there in the past few years.