Sunderland are keeping tabs on controversial Aston Villa forward Ross McCormack, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper reports on their website that Simon Grayson is lining up the 30-year-old as he looks to find a replacement for Jermain Defoe, who has recently left the Stadium of Light to return to Bournemouth.
It is understood that Bruce is willing to give McCormack a second chance to shine at Villa Park, after the pair fell out last season following the 13-times Scotland international’s claim that he went AWOL from training due to a broken electric gate at his home.
McCormack also struggled to find form after securing a £12million move from Fulham last summer.
He scored just three goals in 22 appearances across all competitions for Aston Villa, before he was shipped out on loan to relegation battlers Nottingham Forest, where he also failed to find his shooting boots by netting just once in seven matches.
The Daily Mail reports that McCormack is now back in Bruce’s plans ahead of next season, where Villa are expected t be in competition for Sunderland to earn promotion back to the Premier League.
SkyBet has the West Midlands club at 9/4 favourites to go up while Sunderland are also in the running at 5/1.