Sunderland AFC transfer gossip: Black Cats linked with Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough 'target'

Hoskins has scored 11 goals so far this season for Northampton Town in just 10 appearances for the League Two club

Football League World state several EFL clubs are “keeping tabs” on the 29-year-old heading into the January transfer window.

Those clubs include Sunderland, who have experienced striker problems this campaign with injuries to Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms in the early part of the season.

However, Hoskins is more of an attacking midfielder, a position that Sunderland have great depth in with Elliott Embleton, Alex Pritchard, Patrick Roberts and others able to play behind the striker.

Football League World also claim that Derby County, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday are also interested in Hoskins.

Journalist talks Ross Stewart interest

Sunderland striker Ross Stewart is generating transfer interest despite his recent grade three muscle injury.

Black Cats striker Stewart picked up a thigh issue during the warm-up ahead of the 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough, meaning he was taken out of the starting XI and has been absent ever since.

However, that hasn’t stopped clubs’ interest in the Scottish international striker, who has been a revelation since signing for Sunderland under Lee Johnson, scoring a goal at Wembley to cement the play-off win over Wycombe under Alex Neil.

“I think the biggest challenge they’re going to have this season is holding on to him, because he has a number of clubs already looking at him and he’s just getting better and better,” Sky Sports’ North East reporter Keith Downie said to Football league World.