SUNDERLAND’S hopes of landing former England striker Kevin Davies on a loan deal look set to be dashed by Bolton.
The Black Cats are looking for a short-term fix to their pressing need for attacking reinforcements and while Martin O’Neill is keen on signing an experienced striker, he does not want to spend significant chunks of cash when a summer overhaul is on the cards.
That has prompted him to look at the loan market and while Davies would fit the bill of being a target man with plenty of Premier League experience, the Trotters will only consider letting him go on a permanent basis. The veteran forward is also understood to be eyeing a long-term contract, fully aware that he is coming to the end of an impressive career.
Wolves have also made contact with Bolton this window but at the moment it appears as if Davies will be staying at the Reebok. Aware that things may change in the frantic last few hours of the transfer window, Sunderland will continue to monitor him for the final five days of the month.
Sunderland are also understood to have considered a move for Aston Villa’s Emile Heskey but again, it would have to represent value for money and O’Neill is keen not to disrupt the unity of a Black Cats squad that has been purring of late.
Even though they have been in fine form they still require attacking reinforcements – a need that has become more acute with the news that Nicklas Bendtner will be missing until mid-February with a facial injury.
