Sunderland sign Boro striker Ashley Fletcher
Sunderland have signed 22-year-old striker Ashley Fletcher on loan from fellow North-East rivals Middlesbrough.
The Black Cats are currently sat 23rd in the Championship with 25 points from 29 games, with just five wins all season.
The former Manchester United academy product and West Ham striker was the second addition at The Stadium of Light on deadline day after manager Chris Coleman secured the loan signing of young Liverpool midfielder Ovie Ejaria. Overall Sunderland added four players to their squad in the window with Chelsea defender Jake Clarke-Salter joining on loan and with the addition of Brighton striker Kazenga LuaLua on a free transfer.
However, it was not all great news at The Stadium of Light as club top-scorer Lewis Grabban returned to his parent club after requesting for his loan spell to be cut short. The striker is now on loan at promotion chasing Aston Villa, after the Villains won the race for the strikers signature.
Another senior striker left the club earlier this month as James Vaughan departed for League One table toppers Wigan Athletic, leaving the club with no experienced strikers.
Meaning the signings of LuaLua and Fletcher with allow Coleman to experiment with his attack and create an element of competition in the squad.
Fletcher, only arrived at The Riverside in the summer for £6.5 million from West Ham but the former U20 England international has found chances hard to come by this season so will be hoping to get much more gam time during his spell at The Stadium of Light.
Credit to The Chronicle Live for the imagery used in this article.