Martin O’Neill could be ready to bolster his attacking line with the signing of Zlatan Muslimovic after it was revealed that the striker is currently on loan at the Stadium of Light.
The 30 year-old abandoned a similar trial with Rangers after just a week at the club after learning that Sunderland were interested in his signature.
Muslimovic was last contracted to Greek outfit PAOK but left in the summer when his contract expired and is in the search for a new destination.
Speaking on the Bosnian international’s sudden exit, Rangers manager Ally McCoist said: “Zlatan came in for a day’s training yesterday and he did absolutely fine, so we’d have liked him to have played in the game today,”
The Scot added: “He was offered the chance to do that, but he and his advisors didn’t fancy it and declined, so I believe he has gone to train with Sunderland.”
Martin O’Neill was already keen on strengthening his attacking options this January but given the facial injury picked up by Nicklas Bendtner last weekend, the need for another attacker is even direr.
As it stands, Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-Won will be the senior forwards at the side and although Stephane Sessegnon has filled in superbly in a more attacking role this season, another face up front certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Muslimovic has made over 250 appearances in his long career, most of which have come from an eight-year stay in Italy where he played for nine clubs including seven loan spells.