Sunderland are interested in bringing Ellis Simms back to Wearside next season - but will face competition for the Everton striker from several Championship rivals. Simms joined Sunderland last summer on a season-long loan deal but was recalled to Goodison Park in January to aid the Toffeemen's battle against relegation - a fight they ultimately won.
But Simms ended up being little more than a bit-part player on Merseyside, making nine substitute outings and only two starts, and scoring one goal. By contrast, while at Sunderland the 22-year-old had made 17 appearances, all but three of them starts, and had scored seven goals.
Simms is about to enter the final year of his contract and that could prompt Everton to move him on this summer, with Sean Dyche likely to look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements to avoid another brush with relegation this time around. Sunderland are understood to have made contact with Everton to discuss Simms' situation as they look to bring in additional strikers this summer.
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They were left exposed last season when Simms was recalled and Ross Stewart picked up a season-ending injury at the end of January which left them with on-loan Leeds United man Joe Gelhardt as their only striker for the second half of the campaign, and he was not an outright number nine. Sunderland have already recruited striker Hemir Semedo from Portuguese side Benfica, but Tony Mowbray will still need more firepower - particularly as Stewart's situation is unclear as the in-demand Scot is also now about to enter the final year of his contract.
Simms would seem to be a logical target, but Stoke City - managed by former Black Cats boss Alex Neil - are also believed to be keen on him, while newly-promoted sides Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly keeping tabs on him.
