Celtic join race for Sunderland striker despite shock China link

STEVEN FLETCHER may be handed a return to Scottish football in the summer, according to reports.

 

Fletcher is likely to leave Sunderland but the question remains exactly where or when

 

The 28-year-old cost Sunderland £12million in 2012 but his contract expires at the end of the season and he has yet to sign a renewal.

And now the Sunderland Echo are claiming that Scottish champions Celtic are lining up a move to sign the striker on a Bosman deal when his contract is up.

Fletcher has been linked with a surprise move to China where Shanghai Senhua are targeting him along with former Chelsea striker Demba Ba and Newcastle midfielder Cheik Tiote.

 

But Celtic re-entering the race for Fletcher after failing to close a deal for him on the summer has reportedly made the Glasgow club favourites to secure the player and bring him back to Scotland.

Fletcher started his career north of the border in Edinburgh with Hibernian until moving south to Burnley at the age of 22.

The Clarets were relegated in his first season at the club but he stayed in the Premier League by signing for Wolves before leaving again when they were relegated two years later. 

 

And after racking up 11 goals in his first season at the Stadium of Light, he has managed just 12 more since in two-and-a-half years.

Sam Allardyce now looks set to let the striker go having signed Dame N'Doye as a potential replacement, but whether he will cash in during January or allow the Scot to leave for free in the summer remains to be seen.